A cluster of coronavirus cases in Sydney’s Northern Beaches area has ballooned to 28 confirmed infections as state and territory leaders move to impose travel restrictions a week before Christmas.
Health authorities said genomic testing had confirmed the virus entered Australia from overseas, but health authorities had so far been unable to determine how it spread to the community.
The spike in cases prompted federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly to declare the Northern Beaches Local Government Area a hotspot on Friday, on the basis that more infections are expected, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
It is believed eight people were infected at a “significant seeding event” at Avalon Beach RSL on 11 December, with the first two cases detected on Wednesday. A further 16 of the confirmed cases visited Avalon Bowlo on 13 December, including two people who attended both events.
Two additional cases were announced on Thursday before the cluster grew to 17 on that night.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday told reporters some of the confirmed cases were not residents of the Northern Beaches, warning of potential seeding throughout greater Sydney.
“Everybody in greater Sydney needs to be on high alert,” she said. “I know that there are a lot of Christmas parties on at this time, a lot of social gatherings. Please consider what is essential.”
One of the cases who visited Avalon Beach RSL on 11 December had travelled to Queensland after becoming infected, she added. That person travelled interstate on a Virgin airline on 16 December, with Queensland authorities undertaking the contact tracing related to the flight.
The woman in her 50s, who has since returned to NSW, visited the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains and the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Chief Medical Officer Jeannette Young said.
“I’m confident that we are broadly contact tracing and will find anyone who is potentially at risk of having current contact with that individual,” she added.
Health authorities are urging people in the Northern Beaches to stay home unless absolutely necessary and get tested if they experience any symptoms, while Sydneysiders from outside the region have been told to avoid the area.
“If we get on top of this in the next two or three days, all of us will be able to have a much better Christmas but if we don’t get on top of it in the next few days, it could mean further restrictions down the track.
“Please make sure that if you do leave your home for necessary business that you wear a mask, especially if you are going grocery shopping, especially if you are catching public transport.”
NSW Health has published a list of almost 30 places where confirmed cases of the virus had travelled throughout the past week, with anyone who has visited those locations during certain times asked to either self-isolate and get tested or monitor for symptoms.
Three additional pop-up testing clinics are operating at Avalon Recreation Centre, Newport Community Centre, and Warringah Aquatic Centre, with long lines on Friday morning as residents come forward for testing.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, who is himself a Northern Beaches resident, said the surprise outbreak was an “important reminder” of the continuing dangers of the pandemic.
“There will always be the possibility of something creeping out from somewhere,” he said.
Nearly all Australian states and territories have introduced additional travel restrictions on people who have been in the Northern Beaches since 11 December, throwing Christmas travel plans into disarray.
In response to the new travel restrictions, Ms Berejiklian called for state and territory authorities to have a “proportionate response”.
“I would certainly be making provisions about people who are coming from a hotspot, from the Avalon cluster in the Northern Beaches, but I ask people to consider the fact that parts of NSW are completely unaffected,” she said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant also provided an update to a stand-alone infection detected in a Sydney Airport worker, confirming that no further cases have been linked to the 45-year-old man since he tested positive on Wednesday.
It is believed the man contracted the virus from contact with international airline crew at work.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus. Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.
