Coronavirus: Cases bust NSW’s winning streak

Health officials are urgently tracking the source of three mystery cases of COVID-19 identified in NSW.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in Sydney on Wednesday. Picture: Damian Shaw

Health officials are urgently tracking the source of three mystery cases of COVID-19 identified in NSW, with contact tracers urgently re-tracing the paths of transmission in order to maintain a prospective reopening of the state’s borders with Queensland.

The three infections emerged in gyms and shopping centres in the southwestern Sydney regions of Camden, Wollondilly, as well as Parramatta, bringing to an end a 12-day streak during which the only new cases were found in ­returned overseas travellers.

As of late Wednesday, the three new cases had not been linked to each other. Health officials said their tracing efforts were focused on a Fitness First gym at Carlingford, a Kmart outlet in ­Narellan, and a slew of shopping centres in the Penrith, Parramatta and Castle Hill districts.

A health alert stated that those who attended a pilates class at the Carlingford gym on Saturday ­October 3 between 8.15am and 9.15am would need to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they tested negative for the virus, indicating an increase in precautionary measures and the risk of false test results.

The news immediately threw into doubt the possibility of eased border restrictions between NSW and Queensland, which was slated to happen on November 1 if NSW met a benchmark of 28 days without any locally acquired cases.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday reiterated this standard, telling reporters it was issued based on health advice. However, the state’s Health Minister, Steven Miles, said any discussion around resetting the timer was premature.

“There’s certainly enough reason to be concerned but we will monitor very closely whether NSW can link those cases to existing clusters,” he said.

The cases were not included in the latest counting of COVID-19 infections because the swabs were returned positive after NSW Health’s 8pm reporting deadline, meaning the cases will be included in updated figures to be released on Thursday.

At a press conference announcing the cases, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian voiced her frustration at Queensland’s border position, calling the 28-day benchmark “unrealistic” during an ongoing pandemic.

“We’re always going to have cases pop up because we’re in a pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian told ­reporters. “It’s highly improbable that NSW will ever get to 28 days of no community transmission.”

The Premier said it was her ­expectation the Queensland government would reset the clock on its border reopening timetable.

Health officials expect the number of confirmed cases to rise in NSW, given the lag effect between the onset of symptoms and subsequent testing. Concerns have also been raised about the decline in the number of people seeking testing for the virus.

In the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, there were 5970 tests ­reported, compared with 5385 during the previous period — ­totals that fall significantly short of the testing numbers that hovered around 20,000 cases per day during winter.

Epidemiological data published by NSW Health has also shown that in a considerable number of cases, people tend to wait until the second or third day of their symptoms before seeking a COVID-19 examination.

While the state has enjoyed a lengthy streak without new cases — aside from those in hotel quarantine — surveillance of sewerage facilities has suggested traces of the virus are still circulating.