Coronavirus: Crossroads cluster rising as cases hit gym

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwestern Sydney has ballooned to 30.

Resident Amreen Khan is tested at the Crossroads Hotel. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwestern Sydney has ballooned to 30, after health officials conceded neighbouring suburbs are at risk of being swamped by the virus.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 13 new cases had emerged in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday night, with two more carriers identified on Tuesday evening.

Just three of these cases linked to overseas travellers. The remaining individuals have all been linked to the Crossroads Hotel.

Three of the cases involved people who physically attended the venue and the remaining seven are close contacts.

Dr Chant said one of these cases had recently worked at a Casula Kmart while another recent case had visited the Prestons Lodge residential aged-care facility, which has since been placed into lockdown.

Authorities are also considering the possibility a truck driver could be the source of the Crossroads Hotel outbreak.

Dr Chant said the hotel was on a main transit route. Health authorities were working with other states and territories to ensure they were aware of the cluster.

“This is called the Crossroads Hotel for a reason. It’s on a popular route,” she said.

“Investigations are ongoing as to the source (and) this situation is evolving.

“This is a critical time for us to get high levels of testing in the community so we can contain it.”

NSW Health also revealed that two men aged in their 20s had tested positive after attending the Planet Fitness Gym at Casula, indicating the outbreak is rapidly spreading beyond the Crossroads Hotel epicentre.

Health officials said anyone who attended the gym from July 4 to July 10 should immediately self-isolate and come forward for testing.

“We now have three confirmed cases associated with this gym and we are identifying the close contacts of these new cases to ensure they are also isolating and getting tested,” Dr Chant said.

The extraordinary demand for testing in southwestern Sydney led to a rush on pop-up clinics at the Crossroads Hotel and the nearby Picton Imperial Hotel, with some people waiting for up to five hours for a COVID-19 test.