'We are definitely at a crossroads in NSW': Cases linked to pub reach nine

More than a thousand pub-goers have been asked to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19 after another four people who attended the Crossroads Hotel in Casula tested positive for the virus on Sunday, bringing the total to nine.

A gym a kilometre from the pub has also been closed after a member who worked at the Crossroads tested positive.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the community transmissions had put the state on "high alert" and "literally at a crossroads" in its fight against the pandemic. She said the next few weeks would be "absolutely critical" in preventing the COVID-19 cluster spreading beyond the south-west Sydney hot spot.

"We have literally the next few weeks to continue on the strong path we've been on, otherwise we will go down the path of Victoria. It's up to us now," she said.

"Do not be surprised if the government takes decisions to further reduce the risk in the next month in particular of community transmission getting to a stage where it is out of control."

The Casula pub has become the site of a worrying cluster, with nine cases now confirmed – five of whom attended the venue on July 3, and four of their close contacts.

Medical staff at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Casula.Credit: Getty Images

The four new cases reported on Sunday included an 18-year-old staff member who worked at the hotel on several days including July 3.

A woman from south-western Sydney aged in her 50s who is a close contact of the worker has also tested positive. A woman aged in her 40s from the local area and a Victorian man aged in his 20s who both had dinner at the hotel on July 3 have also tested positive.

About 600 people attended the venue that night and more than a thousand in the week the staff member was present. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said anyone who visited the pub between July 3 and July 10 should get tested and isolate for 14 days.

While the total number expected to isolate is not yet clear, it is in excess of 1000, Ms Berejiklian said. Dr Chant said she makes "no apologies" for taking a cautionary approach.

Dr Chant said even people who have had a negative test should not consider themselves to be "out of the woods" and must continue to isolate for the full 14 days.

While the hotel had a COVID safe plan, Dr Chant said investigations were underway as to whether it complied with social distancing regulations on July 3.

She said the cluster at the hotel is a reminder to all businesses that "even when you have a plan it really is important to have vigilance" in its implementation.

Planet Fitness Casula, just a kilometre away from the Crossroads Hotel, was forced to close on Sunday for a deep clean and urged attendees to get tested after a member who works at the pub tested positive. It is not known if the employee is one of the reported nine cases.

"The member has not been at the club since Friday, 10 July and is in quarantine," a statement from Planet Fitness said. "Additionally, our team members are in self-quarantine as instructed by their doctor, as a precaution because of contact with the patient."

More than 400 people were tested for COVID-19 at the Crossroads Hotel pop-up testing clinic on Saturday. But not all the 600 patrons who attended the hotel on July 3 had yet been contacted. A government spokeswoman said some people who had registered at the front desk had provided incorrect or unclear contact details.

Dr Chant said she could not confirm the completeness of the contact lists "and whether everyone chose to put their name down on those lists".

"I think it does highlight the importance of taking this seriously," she said.

A NSW government spokesman said it encouraged businesses to use digital contact tracing records, but patrons could use pen and paper if infection control risks including hand sanitiser were in place.

Genomic sequencing was underway to track the source of the hotel infections, but Dr Chant said there was no apparent link with Melbourne infections. NSW Health said none of the new cases reported on Sunday, including the Victorian man, appeared likely to have been the source of infection at the hotel.

National Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said hotel patrons who should be tested included people who have now left NSW but who may have been at the pub between those dates. This included truck drivers, "because that is a particular venue that is also frequented by people who do transnational freight driving", he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday morning said that state has reported 273 new cases, and one death. There are 57 Victorians in hospital, 16 of those intensive care. There are now 1484 active cases in Victoria.

NSW reported five new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday, bringing the total to 3289 after one previously reported case was excluded. Two were returned travellers and three were close contacts associated with a Crossroads case from the Blue Mountains who are self-isolating.

Ms Berejiklian defended the state's move to charge returning Australians $3000 for their two-week stay in hotel quarantine, saying residents have had three to four months to consider their options.

with Sarah Keoghan

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