Coronavirus NSW: COVID-19 case under investigation in Wollongong

Authorities are scrambling to work out how a man in his 30s with no links to the Casula pub outbreak became infected outside of Sydney.

Health authorities in New South Wales are trying to work out how three different people became infected with COVID-19 as the state enters a “critical phase” of the pandemic.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant announced 10 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday including three cases “under investigation” – one of which is a man from Wollongong.

The three cases are not linked to the outbreak at the pub in Casula, in Sydney’s southwest, which has since grown to 40 cases including patrons and their contacts at home or elsewhere.

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One of three new coronavirus cases under investigation is a man in his 30s from the Wollongong area, the NSW health department says.

“There are three cases reported today under investigation and not currently linked to the Crossroads Hotel,” NSW Health said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

“These include a female in her 40s from western Sydney, a female in her 40s from southwestern Sydney, and a man in his 30s from the Wollongong area.

“All three cases are currently isolating at home. Investigations to identify the source of infection and contact tracing are underway.”

Dr Chant said the department’s aim was “to find any crossover points with the list of venues” already identified in southwestern Sydney.

“Obviously we are concerned when we find cases that can’t be linked back because it does indicate we have missed a chain,” she said.

RELATED: Where the 317 new cases in Victoria came from

There had been 40 cases of COVID-19 linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula by Thursday. Picture: David Gray/Getty Images

SECOND LINK TO WOLLONGONG AREA

The Illawarra region has separately been linked to the Crossroads Hotel outbreak after the health department identified a number of venues attended by cases traced back to the pub.

These include Planet Fitness in Casula which remains closed after a number of people acquired COVID-19 at the gym.

“Other venues attended by cases in the Crossroads Hotel cluster are under investigation,” NSW Health said.

The department identified Mancini’s Original Woodfired Pizza in Belfield (5pm to 10.30pm on July 10), Hurricane’s Grill in Brighton-Le-Sands (6.30pm to 8.30pm on July 11) and Rashays in North Wollongong (7pm to 9.30pm on July 11).

The first two venues had already been identified in previous reports.

Dr Chant on Thursday confirmed a teenage girl who attended Hurricane Grill’s in Sydney’s south with a previously known case on July 11 had since tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr Kerry Chant announced 10 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 3338. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

News.com.au has contacted Rashays for further information regarding its North Wollongong restaurant.

Rashays founder Rami Ykmour posted a video message to customers on Facebook later on Thursday, saying he wanted to stress they had “followed all NSW Health requirements”.

Mr Ykmour said they had been assessed by the health department as a low-risk restaurant.

“We had a positive case in North Wollongong on Saturday night,” he said.

“The person was dining in a private room. Every single customer’s name has been given to NSW Health,” he said.

“They have dealt with it and we have dealt with it by cleaning our restaurants. As a matter of fact, we already have detailed cleans nightly so there was nothing for us extra to do.”

Mr Ykmour did not say whether staff had been tested for the coronavirus or put into isolation.

A message from our Founder Rami Ykmour

Posted by Rashays on Wednesday, 15 July 2020

There have been 123 cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health district with 105 recoveries and two deaths, according to the latest health department data.

CRITICAL PHASE

Dr Chant on Thursday said she could not “stress the criticality of the current time” enough.

“There have been several points where we’ve really needed the community and business and government to work together and this is probably one of them,” she told reporters.

“We’re clearly seeing high rates of testing, high rates of case numbers coming from Victoria but also we know that there’s a number of controls in Victoria now and it is important that we just mop up any seeding or mop up any transmission.

“I’m not complacent about the challenges of mopping up the transmission but I’m optimistic if we all work together, we can limit community transmission.

“But we are only as good as each individual part so it does require us to work together.”

She urged people, particularly those in younger age groups, to be mindful of their movements.

“Please just reflect, maintain that social distancing, don’t go out with your group of friends if you’ve got even the mildest of symptoms, don’t push through, stay home, get a test and really reflect on your activities over the next couple of weeks and really try and minimise your social interactions,” Dr Chant said.

There have been 3338 cases of COVID-19 recorded in NSW since the pandemic began and 2799 recoveries.

NSW Health is treating 89 patients. One person is in intensive care but not on a ventilator.