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Person in 30s with COVID-19 in intensive care as NSW Premier considers restrictions
By Rachel Clun
A COVID patient aged in their 30s is in a Sydney intensive care unit, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed growing disappointment at seeing crowds flock to beaches.
Two Paddington venues have been added to the growing list of places people have visited while unknowingly infectious. Another two NSW clusters have doubled in size.
Ms Berejiklian said so far NSW has managed to hold the line, but the next two weeks would be critical.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The Crossroads Hotel outbreak in Casula in Sydney's south-west has also swelled to 48 as NSW recorded 20 new cases in the 24 hours to 4pm on Monday. Victoria recorded 275 cases and one new death over the same period.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the ICU patient in their 30s highlighted the disease can have serious consequences for the young.
"We tend to say this disease affects the elderly, and it does on average, but there's still the young people who are impacted," she said. "It is a call out to everyone to take COVID-19 very seriously."
Dr Chant said 96 people were being treated by NSW Health, and two people were in intensive care, including the person in their 30s. The other, a patient in their 70s, is on a ventilator.
Crowds flocked to the grass and walkways at Bondi Beach on Sunday.Credit: Edwina Pickles
In Victoria, there were 147 people in hospital and 31 in intensive care. Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said Victoria's intensive care capacity was at 82 per cent, and COVID cases accounted for one in 10 of intensive care patients.
While Victorians prepare to start wearing masks in public from midnight on Wednesday, images emerged on Sunday of crowds gathering at eastern Sydney beaches despite calls from the government to keep socialising to a minimum.
Ms Berejiklian said it was frustrating to see people ignoring social distancing rules.
"It's devastating and heart wrenching to see, to see a vision of activity like that which jeopardises everybody else," she said on Monday.
Of the 20 new cases confirmed on Monday, three were linked to the Crossroads Hotel, four cases were in hotel quarantine, and one is a person who was infected in Victoria and has been isolating in NSW.
Eight cases were linked to the Thai Rock restaurant at Wetherill Park in Sydney's west, taking that outbreak to 16. The new cases include four people who dined there and four close contacts.
Two cases confirmed late on Monday in western Sydney churchgoers have forced the closure of the Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park as NSW Health officials direct parishioners to self isolate and get tested.
A previously confirmed case linked to the Thai Rock cluster attended the cathedral four times before being diagnosed, a NSW Health spokeswoman said, and two more cases have been confirmed.
People who were at the 5.30pm mass on July 15, the 6pm mass on July 16, and a 1pm funeral and 6pm mass on July 17 must self isolate and watch for symptoms, the spokeswoman said. The church has been cleaned but will remain closed.
Diagnosed cases have also been linked to venues including Paddington's Love Supreme pizzeria, Paddington's Village Inn pub, and the Holy Duck! restaurant in Chippendale, but so far there is no clear link between those cases and existing clusters.
Dr Chant said the source of the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club cluster, which includes one worker, six diners and a close contact of one of those cases, remains unknown and was being investigated.
"But we do have a better handle on the chains of transmission," she said on Monday.
Two pop-up clinics have been opened in Batemans Bay, and several regional hospitals also have COVID-19 clinics, but opposition health spokesman Ryan Park said he had heard of people being turned away from "at capacity" clinics or waiting up to four hours in drive-through clinics.
"People are being really patient and doing their best but two overwhelmed pop-up clinics doesn't cut it," he said.
"The government must learn its lesson and pull out all stops to ensure everyone who needs a test can get one in a timely manner."
Strict new border restrictions will be enacted between NSW and Victoria from midnight on Tuesday.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said a new border zone would be introduced along the Murray River, restricting entry for those on the Victorian side for limited purposes.
"I make no apologies for taking the steps required to protect the health and jobs of NSW citizens," he said.
The restrictions will mean only people with a permit will be allowed to cross the border to go to work or an education facility if they cannot work or learn from home, or for healthcare and for supplies.
All existing permits will expire at midnight on Tuesday as the rules come into effect, and people will have to reapply for new ones.
There were 21,167 tests carried out in the reporting period in NSW, down from 25,917 tests in the previous 24 hours.
correction
In an earlier version of the story, NSW Health confirmed the person on the ventilator was in their 30s. They later clarified the patient on the ventilator is in their 70s, but both patients remain in ICU.