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Alerts for Bathurst 1000, south Sydney venues as restrictions eased for places of worship
By Mary Ward
Groups of 300 people will be able to gather in churches, temples and mosques this weekend, in further eased COVID-19 restrictions following lobbying from the Hillsong mega church.
The state recorded two new local coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, both linked to the Great Beginnings childcare centre at Oran Park in Sydney's south-west.
One of the new cases attended Bavarian Macarthur at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown on Saturday, October 10, from 7pm to 9pm.
NSW Health said anyone who was in the inside area of the restaurant for one hour or more during this time is considered a close contact of a coronavirus case and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, even if they return a negative test.
Anyone who dined in the outside area for more than an hour or dined in the inside area for less than an hour during this time is considered a casual contact and should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop.
The Juniors Club at Kingsford has also confirmed that a person who was positive with COVID-19 was in their poker machine area between September 26 and October 2.
A COVID-19 case visited the poker machine area inside the Junior's Club at Kingsford in late September and early OctoberCredit: Edwina Pickles
NSW Health also said that anyone who attended Century 21 Dixon Real Estate in Kingsford between Saturday September 26 and Friday October 9, or the Shed Café at Royal Randwick Shopping Centre on Saturday October 3 between 3pm and 5pm, should be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms have occurred in the last few weeks.
The department is also urging any attendees of the Bathurst 1000 race or locals who live in the area to monitor for symptoms and get tested as soon as possible after remnants of the COVID-19 virus were detected in raw sewage in the area on Wednesday.
"The sample comprises wastewater from over the past weekend, and could indicate current or a previous infection in someone who attended or worked at the Bathurst 1000 motor race, a visitor to Bathurst, or even a local resident," a statement from the department read.
There are 22 cases linked to the Oran Park cluster, making it the state's largest active cluster.
A general view of the Bathurst 1000 event on Sunday, October 18.Credit: Getty Images
Twelve cases have been linked to the Lakemba GP cluster and 16 to the Liverpool private health clinic, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Wednesday, as he announced eased restrictions for places of worship and gyms.
From Friday, up to 300 people will be allowed to attend a place of worship, provided the four-square-metre rule is observed. The cap on attendees is presently 100.
In addition, gyms with fewer than 20 people in attendance will not need to have a designated "COVID marshal", a change largely designed to benefit 24-hour fitness centres.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the changes were "a great announcement for the body and the soul".
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet update the media on COVID-19 restrictions. Credit: Rhett Wyman
The changes come after Hillsong pastor Brian Houston complained that his north-west Sydney church, with a capacity of 4000, was restricted to 100 attendees.
Mr Houston told 2GB on Wednesday morning that it was inconsistent his church could not hold larger services when the NRL grand final was due to attract 40,000 people at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, noting people get "pretty close and pretty excited" at an evangelical church service or a football game.
Mr Hazzard said he first heard of Mr Houston's complaints through the media.
"There was some churches who felt that they weren't being listened to; I assure you they were," he said.
He added that some larger venues would likely be able to apply for exemptions to the 300-person rule for special events, provided they had a COVIDSafe plan, noting such exemptions had already been granted under the rules.
"When the [Auburn] Gallipoli Mosque had a special day they actually had 400 people there, but they had it in different groups of 100 in different areas of the mosque," Mr Hazzard said.
An additional eight cases were detected in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine during the latest daily reporting period.
The new cases bring the total number of cases for NSW to 4167, after a previously reported case in March was excluded.
There were 14,932 tests reported in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday night, a doubling of the 7401 recorded in the previous 24 hours.
"When we're still getting locally transmitted cases, particularly when the numbers are not that high that have been tested, the government and the public health teams are on high alert," Mr Hazzard said.
The Health Minister added that Australia's Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel would be joining NSW Health again this week to observe its contact tracing regime. Dr Finkel previously made a visit with Victorian health authorities during the depths of Victoria's second wave.