Coronavirus: Covid spike in NSW as 12 cases recorded

NSW has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus as the Premier fires up at businesses ‘not doing the right thing’.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus in the past day, including eight new cases of community transmission identified in NSW overnight, five of which have been linked to a known cluster.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the remaining three cases are linked, however their source has not been identified.

During a press conference on Thursday, Ms Berejiklian also admonished venues that were not doing enough to maintain COVID safety protocols, which assist contact tracing efforts.

“Some businesses are not doing enough to be COVID safe,” Ms Berejiklian said. “I have no patience anymore for businesses that aren’t doing the right thing. We can’t have a few people let down the whole community.”

NSW Health last night sounded the alarm over Ripples restaurant in Milsons Point, after a confirmed case of COVID-19 visited the venue on Saturday, October 3 between 8pm and 10.30pm.

The department advised the details of some walk-in diners during this time were not recorded.

12 new cases of #COVID19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of the 12 new cases:
- 4 are returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine
- 8 are locally acquired (3 of these cases were announced to the public yesterday, and are included in today’s numbers) pic.twitter.com/NKLXGKmJlv

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 8, 2020

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the cases of transmission had been traced to two emerging clusters, including one at Liverpool Hospital.

A healthcare worker at the hospital, a woman aged in her 30s, hosted a social event at her home while she was asymptomatic, leading to two household contacts – a man in his 80s and a woman in her 60s – becoming infected. A further two attendees at the social event also became infected with the virus.

The second cluster has been traced to a private healthcare clinic. Dr Chant said a tentative link exists between this cluster and the Liverpool cluster via one of the women who attended the social event.

“We are obviously investigating whether they’re linked,” she said.

“The remaining three cases of community transmission are all linked, and that source is being investigated by Health,” Ms Berejiklain said.

“Health has not ruled out also being able to establish a link between that new cluster of three people and also an existing cluster.”

Ms Berejiklian said additional venues will be added to the list of impacted locations over the course of the day, and has asked the public to respond to them.

“It’s really, really important for everybody to stay on high alert, look at the information which Health provides during the course of the day, and please react and make sure you take on that advice,” she said.

Health officials are also appealing to anyone who caught a train on Saturday from Parramatta to Milsons Point to monitor for symptoms.

A case travelled on a train on Saturday, 3 October that left Parramatta station at 7:13pm and arrived at Milsons Point station at 8:04pm. Anyone who caught the train at this time is considered a casual contact: https://t.co/mMthVrowD3 @TrainsInfo

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 8, 2020

“A known case travelled on a train on Saturday, 3 October that left Parramatta station at 7.13pm arrived at Milsons Point station at 8.04pm. Anyone who caught the train at this time is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop,” NSW Health said.

“After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received.”