Coronavirus in Sydney: Hunt to find Crossroads Hotel’s patient zero

NSW Health officials are desperately trying to figure out who started the coronavirus cluster that’s emerged at a Sydney pub.

Authorities are trying to find the source of a coronavirus outbreak at a Sydney pub.

There are now 21 COVID-19 cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula. Ten of them had visited the pub and another 11 cases are linked to those.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said they were investigating who “patient zero” was.

“Investigations are ongoing as to the source,” she said.

“It is very important we investigate this thoroughly, before disclosing what we think is the origins.

“We are awaiting further testing results, I expect those results to be in the next few days.

“Clearly … it’s a pivotal part of the investigation as to whether these cases can be linked to any travellers from Melbourne because that gives us comfort we are not missing another avenue of transmission.

“We are looking very hard to establish the source, the initial index case, but it is premature to speculate, we need specialised genetic testing of the virus strains.”

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NSW Health have established a coronavirus pop-up testing clinic in the carpark of Crossroads Hotel at Casula. Picture: David Swift

Dr Chant said officials had some avenues of investigation they were pursing.

“The hypothesis is this could have been introduced through contact in Victoria, but we have to remain open-minded,” she said.

“What’s most important is we don’t go down one path without keeping a very open mind. It is premature for me to conclude how this came about. I need a few more days to do the relevant testing.”

Dr Chant confirmed they were looking at transit routes from Melbourne to Sydney because the hotel sits on one of the main routes.

“We have been working with our colleagues in other states and territories to make sure they are aware of this cluster and they can take appropriate action increasing awareness through those states, in through the freight network, who may be just travelling through,” she said.

“This is called the Crossroads Hotel for a reason, it is on a popular route, and we want to

make sure that the message is far and wide, but we do work very cooperatively through the states and territories in sharing information.”

Dr Chant said the COVIDSafe app hadn’t played a major role in contact tracing, which had been focused on the hotel’s record keeping and the media getting messages out.

She said anyone in that community was urged to get tested so officials could understand if the virus had spread further and if they needed to lock down that area in response.

“At this stage all of the cases that have been notified to date … have been able to be linked to either the Crossroads or another known case,” Dr Chant said.

“If we see any emergence of cases that are not linked to either known cases or the Crossroads attendance on those days, then obviously that will lead us to reflect on additional measures.”