Coronavirus Australia: Sydneysiders banned from Queensland; Sydney’s eastern suburbs on high alert as virus creeps in
Qld has slammed its border shut to Sydney residents as the virus spirals in city’s east, sending hundreds into isolation.
Queensland has shut the border to residents of Sydney.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new restrictions after two teenagers — who returned to the state on July 21 from Melbourne, via Sydney — became the first people with Covid to be in the community since May.
In a tweet, Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the existing entry ban on Victorians would now be extended to those coming from greater Sydney.
BREAKING: Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hotspots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland. #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/044iZeTZ1g
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 29, 2020
“Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hot spots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland. #COVID19au,” she said in the tweet.
NSW records 19 new cases
NSW recorded 19 new cases of the novel coronavirus overnight, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
Health officials confirmed that two of the cases were individuals in hotel quarantine.
The remaining confirmed cases were all linked to outbreaks from a Bankstown funeral home, the Thai Rock restaurants in Wetherill Park and Potts Point, the Apollo restaurant in Potts Point, and the Crossroads Hotel at Casula.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty said investigations were continuing to determine any links between positive cases at the two Thai Rock restaurants. He said concerns had become heightened for residents of the Potts Point area, and anyone with symptoms of the virus should come forward for testing.
“What we’re concerned about is where we can’t link the cases together,” Dr McAnulty said.
According to the NSW Health interactive heat map there have been new cases of COVID-19 in Potts Point, Randwick, Moore Park, Bondi and Zetland since July 1.
The Bondi and Waverley areas were some of the hardest hit suburbs during the initial outbreak.
Gyms across NSW will be required to register a COVID-19 safety plan and have a dedicated hygiene marshall on duty at all times under new rules.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said the measures would come into effect from Saturday, August 1.
Virus stalks Sydney’s east
Extra pop-up testing clinics have been rapidly established in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs as a spiralling number of virus cases forces hundreds of Sydneysiders into isolation.
There are now multiple cases of COVID-19 in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs, including Potts Point and Bondi, with various venues affected.
Another 14 cases were diagnosed on Tuesday, including another three linked to the Potts Point area outbreak.
The worrying new cluster forced the health department to issue a warning to residents living in the city’s fringe suburb.
NSW Health said two of the new cases visited The Apollo restaurant on July 22, and the Cruising Yacht Club Australia (CYCA) in Rushcutters Bay on subsequent nights.
It’s believed a board member at a prestigious Sydney yacht club may be the missing link in the spiralling COVID-19 cluster.
Vice Commodore at the CYCA Noel Cornish and his partner contracted the virus after attending both the Apollo and Thai Rock restaurants in Potts Point in the same week – which NSW Health now believe connects outbreaks at the two venues.
The yacht club in Rushcutters Bay was closed on Tuesday for deep cleaning, as health officials warned anyone who attended the venue at specific times on Thursday, Friday and Sunday monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms.
Meanwhile Fitness First in Kings Cross has been deep cleaned after a positive case attended a group fitness class on July 20. Close contacts have been notified by the health department.
A spokesperson for Fitness First said the patron did not use other facilities within the establishment.
“The club has undergone a process of deep cleaning in addition to increased daily cleaning that has been taking place since the club reopened in June. The club remains open and safe for all those visiting,” the spokesperson said.
PM staffer dined at Apollo
The third new case is a staff member at The Apollo.
The public health alert for The Apollo has been extended by one day, meaning anyone who visited the venue on July 22 through to July 25 must self-isolate for 14 days.
A staffer at the Apollo restaurant who tested positive for COVID-19 has also been linked to the cluster, which has extended its reach directly into Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office.
Mr Morrison’s Adviser Nico Louw is in isolation after attending the Apollo at the time a person infected with coronavirus was dining.
Mr Louw had a COVID-19 test as a precaution, which was returned as negative.
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister confirmed Mr Louw would remain in isolation for 14 days.
Patrons who attended the CYCA on July 23 (between 6pm and 7.30pm), July 24 (between 3.30pm and 5pm) and July 26 (between 4pm and 5pm) are asked to monitor for symptoms.
New case closes Sydney shopping centre
A coronavirus case at a nail salon in a south-western Sydney Westfield is linked to a funeral cluster in the region.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District deputy director said an infected woman worked at Professionail, within Westfield Hurstville, on July 22 and 23,
Dr Vicky Sheppeard said the business had undergone cleaning and close contacts of the confirmed case have been directed to self-isolate for two weeks. Casual contacts have been notified and told to monitor themselves for symptoms of the virus.
“There is no broader risk at Westfield Hurstville,” Dr Sheppeard said.
There are now 15 cases related to church and funeral services held in south-western Sydney, with six new infections announced on Tuesday.
Health Department warning
On Tuesday chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said residents, or anyone who visited the Potts Point area in the past two weeks, should monitor their symptoms and get tested even if they have the “mildest of symptoms, including a runny nose or scratchy throat”.
In response to the latest inner city cluster, a new pop-up clinic has opened in Surry Hills on the corner of Crown and Albion streets.
Other clinics in the eastern suburbs include:
• St Vincent’s clinic at the East Sydney Community Centre, 34-40 Burton St, Darlinghurst
• The Sydney Hospital Emergency Department
• Pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic at The Albion Centre, 150 Albion St, Surry Hills
• Kirketon Road Centre Mobile COVID-19 testing clinic, Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo
• Prince of Wales Hospital, 14B Avoca St, Randwick
• Bondi Beach drive-through carpark clinic
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