New warning for Newcastle venue after being attended by someone with Covid

NSW Health has revealed another venue of concern linked to a superspreader event, calling on people to immediately isolate.

Health authorities have been alerted to a new venue in Newcastle associated with confirmed cases of ovid-19.

NSW Health said anyone who attended The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle from 6.30pm on Friday 10 December to 2.30am on Saturday 11 December is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 7 days.

The department also advised all household contacts of close contacts to be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received by everyone in the household.

“This venue was visited by confirmed cases of Covid-19. It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,” NSW Health said.

It said they are urgently contacting anyone who attended The Cambridge Hotel at these times and checked in via the QR code but is appealing for those who did not check in using the QR code to urgently get tested and isolate.

The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle.

It came amid warnings that NSW could face more than 25,000 cases a day by the end of January.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said research from the University of NSW showed the state was on track for a significant rise in cases over the coming weeks.

“What they are telling us is that by the end of January we could be looking at 25,000 cases of the virus every single day,” he said on Wednesday.

“That takes us to about 175,000 cases in a week. That is a big difference to the 1360 today, which is already a cause for concern.”

Mr Hazzard said there has already been a “very substantial increase” in Covid cases, with infections now doubling “every two to three days”.

“We are on alert and cautious. I think the community needs to be aware of that,” he said.

With the rising number of superspreader events linked to clubs, Mr Hazzard urged people against attending these types of venues in the lead up to Christmas Day.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has issued a warning ahead of Christmas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“You don’t need right now to be jammed packed in an environment with no windows and nothing happening except music thumping. Maybe its not a good time [for that] if you want to have a Christmas Day,” he said.

“My strong suggestion would be to take a little bit of time out and enjoy Christmas with less people and preferably outside, but certainly with windows open. Just be cautious.”

The warning comes as NSW recorded 1360 new Covid-19 cases and one death in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, the highest number of new infections since early September.

NSW #COVID19 update – Wednesday 15 December 2021

In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 94.8% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 93.2% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/eHEcX69k25

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 14, 2021

This is a big jump from the 804 infections confirmed on Tuesday and follows a rise in outbreaks at pubs and clubs across Sydney and Newcastle.

NSW Health said it was likely that the “overwhelming majority of the cases in Newcastle” are the Omicron variant.

There have been 25 new cases of the Omicron variant identified overnight, bringing the total number of cases of the new variant to 110.

A woman in her 90s died at the Gillawarna Village Aged Care Facility in George’s Hall.

She had received three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

There are currently 166 people with Covid in hospital, with 24 of those in the ICU.

Premier Dominic Perrottet urged the community to shift the focus away from Covid case numbers and focus on the ICU numbers.

“I know the media wants to lead on cases but please also report on the ICU numbers, they are just as important,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Yes, case numbers will increase, and they will increase tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.

“We need to learn to live alongside the virus and I want to instil confidence in our people that we can do that.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet urged people not to focus so much on the Covid case numbers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

However, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was still partly “a numbers game”.

“We don’t yet know the disease severity but as case numbers rise, even if you’ve got a very mild disease, it will still lead to hospitalisations,” she said.

“We’ve got to gather that information because that is a really key point that we need to understand: the clinical severity, what it looks like in elderly people and what it looks like in people with underlying health conditions.”

Dr Chant said it was likely that the Omicron variant is driving the “rapid uptick” in cases.

“We have had a number of superspreading events and what it has highlighted is increased transmissibility. What we don’t know yet is clinical severity,” she said.

She said booster Covid shots were critical in fighting Omicron, she also urged everyone to continue to wear masks in indoor environment, despite it no longer being a requirement under the health restrictions.

“I know it can be annoying but it is a very tiny act and you are actually protecting yourself but, more importantly, you are protecting others,” Dr Chant said.

Concerns flagged over eased restrictions

Mr Perrottet also announced on Wednesday morning that the definition of a “close contact” would be changed to focus on household contacts.

Close contacts will also only be required to isolate under they receive a negative PCR test, instead of the previous seven day rule.

The changes comes as a raft of restrictions eased across NSW overnight, with some of the most significant changes around mask wearing and QR code check ins.

From today, masks will only be required on public transport, planes, at airports and for unvaccinated indoor front-of-house hospitality staff.

For all other settings, mask rules have been completely scrapped. However, NSW Health said masks are still “strongly encouraged” in settings where you cannot social distance.

Similarly, QR code check ins are now only required in certain “high risk” settings, including hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funeral services, personal services (including sex services), pubs, small bars and registered clubs, nightclubs, strip clubs, sex on premises venues and indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.

A raft of new freedoms have been introduced across NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The eased restrictions also mean unvaccinated residents, who previously had to adhere to stricter rules, will be given the same freedoms as those who have been fully vaccinated.

The rise in today’s Covid-19 infections comes after Australian Medical Association (AMA) Vice President Dr Chris Moy expressed concerns that the changes around mask wearing and QR codes were “premature”.

He told 2GB both restrictions have are easy for residents to adhere to and have been proven to reduce the risk of outbreaks and help contain them.

“We believe it is probably premature. It possibly sends the wrong message that it’s all over because I don’t think it is completely over,” he said.

Dr Moy said wearing a mask in indoor settings was still a good thing to do, particularly due to the rising Covid-19 cases in NSW.

“Not withstanding the fact it is coming into summer and it is much more uncomfortable to wear these masks as things get warmer but nevertheless, overall it is a relatively minor thing that can and has been shown to reduce the transmission of Covid through the community,” he said.

Dr Moy also warned scrapping check in requirements for the majority of businesses will “completely hamper contact tracing”.

He said if people are required to check in it allows contact tracers to basically instantaneously notify them if they are a close or casual contact of a confirmed Covid case.

“What that does now is basically take that out of play. When you are getting increasing outbreaks, particularly when you want to close down the Omicron outbreaks, it does really tie one hand, possibly both hands actually, behind the back of contact tracers,” he said.

“It really makes their job a lot harder. It takes them back to the stone ages in some ways.”

All of the new freedoms in NSW

These are all the changes that are in place across NSW from December 15:

• Unvaccinated people in NSW can enjoy the same freedoms as those who are fully vaccinated.

• Masks are only required on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.

• QR code check ins are only required for hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals services, personal services (including sex services), pubs, small bars and registered clubs, nightclubs, strip clubs, sex on premises venues and indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.

• Density limits, such as the 2 sqm rule, will be scrapped for hospitality venues, personal service, major seated recreation facilities, entertainment facilities, education facilities, and music festivals with up to 20,000 people.

• Proof of vaccination will no longer be required for the majority of activities, though individual businesses may set their own vaccination rules.

• Proof of vaccination will remain in place for indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people and cruises with more than 100 passengers.