Public transport routes and venues issue alerts after 7 new COVID-19 cases in NSW

More than a dozen NSW venues, buses and trains have been exposed to coronavirus after the state recorded a mystery infection.

NSW Health has issued a firm request for passengers on public transport to wear a mask at all times after two cases of COVID-19 were linked to a popular bus route.

A public health alert issued on August 30 stated that 11 passengers travelling on the X39 bus on August 20 at approximately 6:08pm to 6:40pm are now considered close contacts of a case. One passenger was linked to the CBD cluster and NSW Health are investigating the source of the second person’s infection. All passengers on the bus have been asked to immediately self-isolate until September 3 and get tested for COVID-19.

“A previously reported case associated with the August CBD cluster took this bus,” read a statement, issued by the health body. “The person reported wearing a mask on the bus. A second passenger was confirmed as having COVID on Friday.”

While wearing face masks is not compulsorary for NSW residents, as it is in Victoria, NSW Health has recommended people to wear a mask when they’re unable to maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres. Examples of this include high-risk indoor areas like public transport, supermarkets, shops, places of worship and entertainment venues.

“NSW Health strongly advises everyone travelling by public transport to wear a mask at all times,” continued the statement.

Passengers linked to the popular bus route have been asked to self-isolate immediately. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi.

This comes as NSW has recorded seven new cases of coronavirus as a cluster linked to a gym in the CBD grows to 28.

One is a returned traveller who is in hotel quarantine, five are linked to a known case or cluster and one is locally acquired with their source still under investigation.

The state’s head of health protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said five of the new cases were linked to the City Tattersalls Fitness Centre.

Two of the new cases attended the gym, while one was a household contact of a previous case.

“The total number of cases linked to this cluster is now 28,” Dr McAnulty said.

NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

A student of St Pauls Catholic College in Greystanes in Sydney’s west has also been confirmed as a fresh case after being diagnosed on Saturday.

The school will be closed for deep cleaning on Monday.

Meanwhile a staff member of Surry Hills Police Cells Complex has tested positive.

The staff member is isolating and contract tracing is underway.

NSW Health workers conduct testing in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steven Saphore

Justice Health is taking “appropriate health and safety measures” following the diagnosis, Dr McAnulty said.

Confirmed cases have been identified as travelling on several public transport routes, and visiting gyms and venues, across Sydney’s inner city, west and inner west.

Anyone who attended these venues or caught the same public transport service is considered a casual contact and should monitor for symptoms, and get tested if they develop.

Buses from August 19 to 27

Bus 442 on August 25: Gladstone Park, Darling St (9:18am) to Gladstone Park, Darling St (9:31am)

Bus 442 on August 25: QVB, York St, Stand B to Darling St (2:39pm) to Phillip St, Balmain (2:52pm)

Bus Merrylands Park to Parramatta station on August 27: approximately 7:10pm

Bus 339 on August 19: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (5:57am) to Martin Place Station (6:16am)

Bus X39 on August 19: Pitt St opp Australia Square (5.57pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (6.27pm)

Bus 339 on August 20: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (6.30am) to Martin Place Station (6.58am)

Bus 339 on August 20: Pitt St opp Australia Square (9.47am) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (10.17am)

Bus 339 on August 20: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (2.34pm) to Martin Place Station (3pm)

Bus 339 on August 21: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (5.26am) to Martin Place Station (5.49am)

Bus 339 on August 21: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (6.29am) to Martin Place Station (6.54am)

Bus 339 on August 21: Clovelly Rd opp Searle Ave (2.42pm) to Sheraton on the Park (3.06pm)

Bus 339 on August 21: Pitt St opp Australia Square (6.35pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (6.56pm)

Bus 339 on August 22: Clovelly Rd opp Searle Ave (7.27am) to Martin Place Station (7.50am)

Bus 339 on August 24: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (5.30am) to Martin Place Station (5.53am)

Bus X39 on August 24: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (7.20am) to Oxford St at Brisbane St (7.39am)

Bus 339 on August 24: Clovelly Rd opp Searle Ave (2.21pm) to Martin Place Station (2.21pm)

Bus 339 on August 24: Museum Station (3.15pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (3.46pm)

Bus X39 on August 24: Pitt St opp Australia Square (6.33pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (7.03pm)

Bus 39 on August 25: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (7.21am) to Oxford St at Brisbane St (7.39am)

Bus 339 on August 25: Museum Station (1.55pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (2.20pm)

Bus X39 on August 26: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (7.21am) to Oxford St at Brisbane St (7.39am)

Bus 339 on August 26: Museum Station (12.59pm) to Clovelly Rd at Carrington (1.21pm)

Bus X39 on August 27: Clovelly Rd at Carrington (7.21am) to Oxford St at Brisbane St (7.40am)

Bus 442 on August 25: Gladstone Park, Darling Street (9.18am) to Gladstone Park, Darling Street (9.31am)

Bus 442 on August 25: QVB York St, Stand B (2.39pm) to Darling St at Phillip St (2.52pm)

Bus 333 on August 25: Bondi Rd at Dudley St (8.19am) to Bondi Junction Station, Grafton St, Stand Q (8.31am)

Bus 333 on August 25: Bondi Junction Station, Stand A (6.07pm) to Bondi Rd opp Dudley St (6.16pm)

Bus 333 on August 26: Bondi Rd at Dudley St (7.39am) to Bondi Junction Station, Grafto St, Stand Q (7.55am)

Trains from August 24 to 27

Parramatta station to Lidcombe station, on August 27, approximately 7:10pm

Lidcombe station to Merrylands station, on August 27, approximately 7:20pm

Merrylands station to Parramatta station, August 24, 25 and 26, approximately 3:40pm

Parramatta station to Mount Druitt, August 24, 25 and 26, approximately 3:45pm to 4pm

Bondi Junction to Martin Place, on August 25, approximately 8:32am to 8:42am and August 26, approximately 7:56am to 8:07am.

Train: Martin Place to Bondi Junction, on August 25, approximately 5:51pm to 6:05pm.

The venues are:

Mater Clinic Wollstonecraft – August 28 from 8:30am to 9am

Virgin Active Pitt St Gym, Sydney, – August 25 from 5pm to 6:30pm*

Virgin Active Margaret St Gym, Sydney – August 26 from 5:10pm to 6:40pm*

House, Broadway, – August 24 2pm to 2:10pm

St Ives Shopping Centre – August 26 from 5:30pm to 6pm

Highfield Caringbah August 22 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm*

Caringbah Hotel August 22 from 8:30pm to 11pm*

There were 19,626 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 24,632 in the previous 24 hours.

NSW Health is treating 66 people, with six in intensive care and three requiring ventilators.