As the day unfolded: Northern beaches now in lockdown as Sydney COVID-19 cluster spreads

NSW Health has just updated its list of venues that have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. As well as the Sydney’s northern beaches, it also now includes the lower north shore, southern and eastern suburbs.

Anyone who was at the following venues on the dates and at the times below is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:

• Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esplanade and Stuart Street, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 2.30pm
• Donny’s Bar, 7 Market Place, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3:15pm – 9pm
• Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 9pm – 12:30am
• Rusti Fig, 3/363 Barrenjoey Road, Newport: Saturday 12 December, 9am – 10:30am
• Café Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Road, Neutral Bay: Sunday 13 December, 12:45pm – 2.30pm
• BoThai, 16 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest: Sunday 13 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
• Pearly Nails, 2/6 Waratah Street, Mona Vale: Monday 14 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
• Salon X, 86 William Street, Paddington: Wednesday 16 December, 9am – 6pm and Thursday 17 December, 9am – 8pm
• Mona Vale Golf Club (bar and function room), 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 5pm – 10pm
• Garfish Seafood Restaurant, 39 East Esplanade, Manly: Thursday 17 December, 6:45pm – 8:30pm
• Anytime Fitness, 7 Taronga Place, Mona Vale, on Thursday 17 December between 9.50am and 12.45pm;
• G Fitness, 72/80 Evans Street, Freshwater, on Tuesday 15 December between 11am and 12.45pm;
• 4 Pines, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport, on Wednesday 16 December between 4.30pm-9pm;
• Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Double Bay: Any staff working on Tuesday 15 December, and patrons seated in the indoor section on that day for more than 1 hour between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm.

Anyone who visited the following venues on the dates and times below is considered a casual contact and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Road, Riverwood: Wednesday 9 December, 3pm – 3:35pm
• Nourished Wholefood Café, 17 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach: Saturday 12 December, 7.15am-7.30am
• Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
• The Steyne Hotel, 75 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3pm – 3:30pm
• Cronulla Mall, 6 Cronulla Street Cronulla: Tuesday 15 December, 8pm – 9pm and Wednesday 16 December, 3pm – 6pm
• Navy Bear Café, RAN Sailing Association, 1C New Beach Rd, Darling Point: Sunday 13 December, 10.30am – 4.45pm
• Restaurant Lovat, G04/316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Saturday 12 December 2:15pm – 2:25pm and 4pm – 4:15pm
• Mona Vale Golf Club, 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 11am – 5pm
• Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Jacksons Rd, Warriewood, on Tuesday 15 December between 6.30pm and 9.30pm;
• Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Double Bay: Any patrons who were in the restaurant for less than 1 hour, or those who sat in the outdoor area on Tuesday 15 December between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm on Tuesday 15 December;
• Flower Power, 22 Macpherson St, Warriewood, on Friday 18 December between 8.45am and 9.30am;
• Bowen Island Bakery, 383 Barrenjoey Road, Newport, on Friday 18 December between 9am and 9.30am.

Following revised times, anyone who was at the following hair salons at the following times is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:

• Salon for Hair, 3/1335 Pacific Highway, Turramurra: Any time from Tuesday 15 December to Friday 18 December inclusive
• Hair by Erika, 17/43 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove: Friday 11 December, 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Advice published in a previous public health alert regarding Warringah Mall has also been updated: Unless advised by NSW Health that they are close contacts, people who attended Warringah Mall on December 16 between 11.40am and 1.30pm are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms, and test and self-isolate if symptoms occur.

Confirmed cases have also travelled on the following bus routes. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:

• Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 7am arriving Avalon Beach, 7.15am
• Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Avalon Beach 12.20am, arriving Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 12.45am
• Bus Route 199 on Saturday 12 December, departing Palm Beach 10.10am and arriving at Manly Beach at 11.30am.

That's all from me tonight, folks. It's been a day of border closures, with Greater Sydney residents effectively locked out of every state and territory as of this afternoon as the northern beaches grapples with a lockdown and NSW Health identified new venues where confirmed COVID-19 cases had been.

We'll be firing up the blog again in the morning as the situation in Sydney unfolds. Until then, stay safe and remember to follow the health advice.

Qantas and Jetstar have said a number of flights between Sydney and Melbourne will be cancelled as a result of the border restrictions between the two states.

A statement released by Qantas on Sunday night said the changes to travel restrictions announced by the Victorian government saw a surge in bookings for flights between Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, with other interstate routes involving Sydney also nearly at capacity.

A number of Jetstar and Qantas flights between Sydney and Melbourne will be cancelled as a result of the restrictions.Credit: Louie Douvis

The airline said that both carriers also saw large numbers of customers cancelling their bookings between Sydney and Melbourne from Monday onwards.

"A number of flights will be cancelled as a result. We’ll be contacting customers directly impacted by any flight changes," the statement said.

The airlines are seeing a lot of inquiries from customers travelling to and from Sydney who are looking to change their travel plans, and the airline has asked anyone not travelling within the next 48 hours to avoid phoning to help them manage existing call volumes.

From deserted beaches and cafes, to COVID-19 testing queues, our photographers have been capturing the northern beaches lockdown as it happened. Click through to our picture gallery to see scenes from the day unfolding.

Drive through COVID-19 testing in Avalon after an outbreak in the area.Credit: James Brickwood

A quiet Mona Vale Beach.Credit: Nick Moir

If you're just joining us, it's been quite the afternoon for border closures.

• South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT have imposed border restrictions against Greater Sydney residents. This follows restrictions already implemented by Tasmania and WA
• NSW Health has confirmed COVID-19 cases have visited venues on the lower north shore, the eastern suburbs and the southern suburbs of Sydney, including Cronulla Mall and Salon X in Paddington
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged people to remain cautious, while acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has defended the speed of NSW's response to the Avalon outbreak
• All this on top of a northern beaches local government area lockdown until at least Wednesday, and new restrictions imposed on venues across Greater Sydney

We've also received dozens of messages from people whose Christmas plans have been thrown into chaos by the latest round of restrictions. Some people are heartbroken, others are resigned, many are hopeful that they can still salvage their plans.

Here's a story we published earlier about a northern beaches grandmother, Jill Osthoff, who may not be able to see her extended family on Christmas day.

The ACT will be effectively closed to non-residents from Greater Sydney and adjacent regions effective midnight on Sunday.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said people travelling to the ACT from Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Nepean Blue Mountains regions would be required to notify Territory officials by completing an online declaration form in advance.

Residents who are returning to the ACT from the regions covered by the ACT’s new health orders must quarantine at home for 14 days, and anyone else in the residence at the time will also have to quarantine.Ms Coleman said the restrictions were “likely to continue over Christmas and in the New Year”.

ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the government would not accept exemption requests from non-residents except in extreme circumstances.

Police will also check travelers’ details at Canberra airport to make sure people aren’t dodging border restrictions.

Anyone who visited Sydney’s Northern Beaches from Friday December 11 is required to self quarantine for 14 days from the date they were last in the area.

NSW Health has just updated its list of venues that have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. As well as the Sydney’s northern beaches, it also now includes the lower north shore, southern and eastern suburbs.

Anyone who was at the following venues on the dates and at the times below is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:

• Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esplanade and Stuart Street, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 2.30pm
• Donny’s Bar, 7 Market Place, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3:15pm – 9pm
• Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 9pm – 12:30am
• Rusti Fig, 3/363 Barrenjoey Road, Newport: Saturday 12 December, 9am – 10:30am
• Café Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Road, Neutral Bay: Sunday 13 December, 12:45pm – 2.30pm
• BoThai, 16 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest: Sunday 13 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
• Pearly Nails, 2/6 Waratah Street, Mona Vale: Monday 14 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
• Salon X, 86 William Street, Paddington: Wednesday 16 December, 9am – 6pm and Thursday 17 December, 9am – 8pm
• Mona Vale Golf Club (bar and function room), 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 5pm – 10pm
• Garfish Seafood Restaurant, 39 East Esplanade, Manly: Thursday 17 December, 6:45pm – 8:30pm
• Anytime Fitness, 7 Taronga Place, Mona Vale, on Thursday 17 December between 9.50am and 12.45pm;
• G Fitness, 72/80 Evans Street, Freshwater, on Tuesday 15 December between 11am and 12.45pm;
• 4 Pines, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport, on Wednesday 16 December between 4.30pm-9pm;
• Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Double Bay: Any staff working on Tuesday 15 December, and patrons seated in the indoor section on that day for more than 1 hour between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm.

Anyone who visited the following venues on the dates and times below is considered a casual contact and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Road, Riverwood: Wednesday 9 December, 3pm – 3:35pm
• Nourished Wholefood Café, 17 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach: Saturday 12 December, 7.15am-7.30am
• Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
• The Steyne Hotel, 75 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3pm – 3:30pm
• Cronulla Mall, 6 Cronulla Street Cronulla: Tuesday 15 December, 8pm – 9pm and Wednesday 16 December, 3pm – 6pm
• Navy Bear Café, RAN Sailing Association, 1C New Beach Rd, Darling Point: Sunday 13 December, 10.30am – 4.45pm
• Restaurant Lovat, G04/316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Saturday 12 December 2:15pm – 2:25pm and 4pm – 4:15pm
• Mona Vale Golf Club, 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 11am – 5pm
• Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Jacksons Rd, Warriewood, on Tuesday 15 December between 6.30pm and 9.30pm;
• Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Double Bay: Any patrons who were in the restaurant for less than 1 hour, or those who sat in the outdoor area on Tuesday 15 December between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm on Tuesday 15 December;
• Flower Power, 22 Macpherson St, Warriewood, on Friday 18 December between 8.45am and 9.30am;
• Bowen Island Bakery, 383 Barrenjoey Road, Newport, on Friday 18 December between 9am and 9.30am.

Following revised times, anyone who was at the following hair salons at the following times is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:

• Salon for Hair, 3/1335 Pacific Highway, Turramurra: Any time from Tuesday 15 December to Friday 18 December inclusive
• Hair by Erika, 17/43 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove: Friday 11 December, 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Advice published in a previous public health alert regarding Warringah Mall has also been updated: Unless advised by NSW Health that they are close contacts, people who attended Warringah Mall on December 16 between 11.40am and 1.30pm are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms, and test and self-isolate if symptoms occur.

Confirmed cases have also travelled on the following bus routes. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:

• Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 7am arriving Avalon Beach, 7.15am
• Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Avalon Beach 12.20am, arriving Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 12.45am
• Bus Route 199 on Saturday 12 December, departing Palm Beach 10.10am and arriving at Manly Beach at 11.30am.

The Northern Territory has declared Greater Sydney a coronavirus hotspot and has joined Victoria and Queensland in imposing border restrictions against people from the region, effective immediately.

Acting Chief Health Minister Nicole Manison said earlier this afternoon that 130 passengers on a flight from Sydney would be transferred to hotel quarantine when the aircraft landed, at no cost to the travellers, or return to Sydney.

However other people flying to the territory would be given the choice of turning around or paying $2500 for quarantine.

"We've said that our number one priority is to protect the lives of Territorians, and that if we had to, we would go hard, wide, and early and we'd act quickly, and today we have again," Ms Manison said.

"We will expand the current hotspot of the Northern Beaches local government area to Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Illawarra, and the Central Coast. This means anyone coming in to the Northern Territory, from 3pm today from these regions will have to go into mandatory quarantine."

Meanwhile the ACT is set to make an announcement regarding travel to and from the territory later tonight.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged the need for a national cabinet meeting should the situation in NSW continue to deteriorate.

“If we start to see even more cases come out of NSW in the next couple of days, I think we should have a national cabinet meeting,” she said in Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.Credit: Attila Csaszar

“I really think that it's going to be that critical situation that we need to convene as a national cabinet to talk about these issues because it is of national significance.”

Asked what she would hope to achieve out of such a meeting, not held for weeks, Ms Palaszczuk said it would be an opportunity for all state and territory leaders to get “across all of the issues”.

“I don't think we want to see what happened in Victoria happen in NSW and I definitely don't want to see that happen in Queensland.”

Meanwhile, Queensland pubs, clubs and venues have been given 72 hours to get their “house in order” with QR codes or electronic systems.

The move comes after contact tracers found illegible handwriting or missing digital check-ins when attempting to reach those who had visited the same Brisbane pub as a woman who later tested positive.

Queensland police will reintroduce road checkpoints at the NSW border to help enforce the new declaration of Greater Sydney as a COVID-19 hotspot.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said anyone thinking about driving up from the city to beat the 1am Monday deadline would likely not get through.

“They will probably find a checkpoint by the time they get here,” he said.

Mr Gollschewski added two people had already been found in breach of home quarantine requirements. One of these was a person who had travelled from the northern beaches and the other was a member of an international flight crew.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tells residents of Greater Sydney not to come north.Credit: Getty Images

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a widening of travel restrictions from NSW with greater Sydney declared a COVID-19 hot spot.

The expansion beyond the northern beaches local government area will take effect from 1am on Monday, Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

“If you are from greater Sydney now is not the time to travel to Queensland,” she said.

Queensland residents will have until 1am on Tuesday to return, but will have to get tested on arrival and quarantine in their home, if suitable, for 14 days.

All travelling across the border from NSW will need a border declaration pass to enter, with limited exemptions.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the move was important based on the “continued escalation” of cases in Sydney and relaxed restrictions across Queensland.