Coronavirus: Hundreds wait hours for test as Covid cluster grows

As Sydney’s cluster grows to five, authorities scramble to prevent a new spike, and hundreds spend hours waiting to get tested.

Sydney now has six locally acquired coronavirus cases, five from the city’s northern beaches, as authorities scramble to trace the source of the outbreak.

Authorities went on high alert yesterday after a 45-year-old man, who transports international aircrew from the airport, tested positive to COVID-19.

A few hours later, a couple, aged in their 60s and 70s from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, also tested positive to coronavirus.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday confirmed two more people had tested positive in the city’s north – a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s. The woman’s partner has also acquired the disease.

The six infections are NSW’s first cases of community transmission since December 3.

New cases spark testing queues

Hundreds of people are queuing around the block to be tested for coronavirus at Sydney’s Mona Vale hospital.

As the queues at Mona Vale hospital lengthened, NSW Health said it would open a pop-up testing clinic at the Avalon recreation centre on Barrenjoey Road to manage the huge numbers.

NSW PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – Northern area of the Northern Beaches.
@NSWHealth has been notified of venues of concern following two new cases of #COVID19 this afternoon in the northern area of the Northern Beaches. Read more and see venues: https://t.co/KIhYlvTkZd pic.twitter.com/kAOl8eR6bc

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 16, 2020

While entire households waited for hours to be tested, the streets of Avalon were almost empty on Thursday morning.

Close contacts of a woman in her 60s and man in his 70s who visited a number of places in Palm Beach and Avalon have been asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days even if they are negative.

Hundreds waiting for a covid test outside outside Mona Vale hospital. People will have to wait hours for a test but good to see such a strong community response to the threat! @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/ltRjZwmiWf

— Mylee Hogan (@MyleeHogan) December 16, 2020

Hundreds of people queued for testing at Mona Vale hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“We have seen an increase in testing overnight. We want to get on top of this and don’t want this concerning us in the last few days before Christmas and urging everyone to be as vigilant as ever,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

“At the moment our priority is to identify the source of the infections in the Northern Beaches in particular. We are asking people to come forward and get tested with the mildest symptoms. There are a number of aged care facilities in the Northern Beaches and there will be no visitors (allowed) until we identify the source of infection and feel more confident we have it under control.”

Long queues snaking down the street and around the corner for COVID-19 testing at Mona Vale Hospital after two mystery cases were detected on Sydney’s Northern Beaches ⁦@abcsydney⁩ ⁦@abcnews⁩ pic.twitter.com/RFKUOKHNwC

— Alexia Attwood (@AlexiaAttwood) December 16, 2020

Scott Morrison praised NSW’s handling of COVID-19, saying NSW was the “gold standard” in containing the spread of coronavirus and boosting the national economy.

“NSW’s ability to stand and remain open during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020 had an immeasurable benefit to the national economy. Where other states faltered, NSW stood very strong,” he said.

“Had the NSW economy not remained open during 2020, we would not be seeing the strength of the recovery and the comeback we are now seeing.”

Aged care staff warned as colleague tests positive

Aged care operator Aveo has confirmed that a staff member at Pittwater Palms retirement village in Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches – a woman in her 50s – has been diagnosed with COVID-19

In a statement on Thursday, Aveo said the staff member tested positive after they attended a hotspot identified by NSW Health.

“The staff member is well and we will continue to monitor their wellbeing during this time,” the company said. “We have asked staff who had come into close contact with the staff member to get tested and self isolate at home.”

Aveo said containment procedures were enacted “immediately” to reduce exposure to residents and staff in an effort to stop the virus from spreading within the facility.

“We commenced precautionary contact tracing and have now handed that information to the Public Health Unit, who will commence a formal process to identify anyone who may require testing and self-isolation,” Aveo said.

“We want to assure you that no further staff or residents at Pittwater Palms has tested positive for COVID-19 and no others are displaying symptoms or are unwell at this time.”

Aveo said that community facilities had been closed and that community attendants will “bioscreen” essential visitors.

“The health and wellbeing of our residents and staff is our number one priority. We have taken immediate and comprehensive action outlined in our emergency response protocol and are working closely with the Public Health Unit, which is now providing direction to Aveo’s COVID Response Team.”

RSL Club alerts

Anyone who has visited the RSL Avalon on December 11, all day until close, should be tested. Anyone at the Penrith RSL on December 13 from 1 - 6pm and the Kirribilli Club on the 14th from 12 - 3pm should be tested.

The full list of venues on alert

• Hungry Ghost Cafe, 20 Avalon Parade, Avalon on Sunday, December 13 between 9.30am and 11am and Tuesday, December 15 between 9.30 and 11am

• Sneaky Ground Cafe, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 10.30am and 11am

• Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 2pm and 3.30pm

• Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 7pm and 8pm

• Palm Beach female change rooms on Sunday, December 13 between 9am and 9.15am

• Coast Palm Beach Cafe, Palm Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 10am and 11am

• Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), Avalon Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 5pm and 7pm (not 3-5pm as previously reported) and Tuesday, December 15 between 3pm and 5pm

Health authorities have also issued a warning for those who visited the following venues to get a test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.

These include:

• Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Road, Mona Vale on Monday, December 14 between 4.30 and 4.45pm

• Woolworths Avalon Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 12pm and 5pm and Tuesday Dec 15 between 12pm and 12.30pm

•Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 9am and 9.15am

Additional reporting: Kieran Gait