Coronavirus updates LIVE: Sydney remains on high alert after northern beaches COVID-19 cluster grows to 17 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Summary

Sydney’s northern beaches residents have been asked to stay in their homes after a coronavirus cluster in the area reached 17 cases on Thursday
Tasmania has shut its border to anyone who has been in northern beaches on or since December 11
Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory have asked people who have been on the northern beaches to quarantine for 14 days. WA went a step further and imposed this on anyone from NSW
NSW Health has added more than a dozen new locations - including an Aldi supermarket, Commonwealth Bank branch and a Chemist Warehouse outlet - to its list of COVID-impacted venues in the northern beaches
Overnight, French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 after developing symptoms. There have now been over 74 million cases globally and 1.6 million deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally

Latest updates

‘It’s an international strain’: NSW Premier confirms outbreak source

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the source of the northern beaches outbreak is from overseas, not an existing community strain.

"We are yet to work out how it got from the international source to the community, whether it was through quarantine or other sources. That's really the challenge for our genomic experts at the moment," Ms Berejiklian told ABC News Breakfast.

The Premier said the present three-day request for northern beaches residents to stay at home was sufficient for now, but could not rule out further restrictions being issued.

"We will know during the course of the day whether we need to do anything more than that," she told the Today show. "But certainly can I tell you that the situation is being monitored hourly and of course if we need to do more, we will."

"We're taking this extremely seriously. We want to get on top of it as soon as we can, to give people as normal a Christmas as possible."

Lengthy queues for testing at pop-up clinics

It's not yet 8am but some lengthy queues are forming on the northern beaches this morning as people visit COVID-19 clinics to get tested for the virus.

Northern beaches residents queue at the pop-up clinic in Avalon on Friday morning. Credit:Nick Moir

NSW Health is urging residents to stay home for three days where possible to assist contact tracers figure out how widely the virus has spread.

Alerts have been issued for visitors to 30 venues with people asked to isolate and get tested.

Residents are heeding the call to get tested.Credit:Nick Moir

‘I want everybody to brace themselves’: NSW Premier flags more cases today

By Josh Dye

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said people should “brace themselves” with more cases to be announced at 11am.

“I am absolutely concerned, as we all should be. This is a critical and concerning situation given the number of cases we have and the concentration of cases,” she said.

NSW will announce a “considerable” number of new cases today.Credit:Brook Mitchell

"We are going to have a considerable amount of cases come, I think, during the day."

Ms Berejiklian told Sunrise authorities were still determining how the outbreak spread into the community.

“We also understand from the genomic testing that the original source was from an international source, but obviously somehow it has got from the international source into the community,” she said.

The Premier backed other states for implementing travel restrictions and declaring the northern beaches a hotspot.

“But don't close off people from all of NSW coming into your state.”

She said “all of Sydney should be on high alert”.

“If you live in the northern beaches please don't leave home unless you absolutely have to. Please don't mix with other households, don't frequent any venues unless you absolutely have to.”

Victoria asks people to self-isolate

By Ashleigh McMillan

Victoria is asking anyone who has visited NSW exposure sites connected to the northern beaches outbreak since last Friday to isolate for two weeks.

Travellers who were in Sydney's northern beaches or visited other NSW COVID-19 exposure sites from last Friday and have since travelled to Victoria need to be tested and quarantine in their current premises for 14 days, from when they left the place of exposure to the virus.

Those who visited exposure sites and arrive into Victoria after midnight on Friday will need to get tested and isolate for 14 days.

The Victorian government will announce more advice later today for travellers who visited Sydney's northern beaches and other NSW exposure sites and arrive in Victoria after midnight on Saturday.

The Department of Health and Human Services said that anyone who visited exposure sites should contact the department so they can be "supported to safely and appropriately self isolate and get tested".

"The DHHS will be conducting spot checks on flights arriving from Sydney to remind passengers that anyone who has visited the Northern Beaches or the other exposure sites must get tested immediately and self isolate," a spokesman said in a statement on Friday morning.

Northern Beaches Council closes public areas

Northern Beaches Council has confirmed the immediate closure of a number of community locations and facilities until Sunday December 20, including:

Skate parks and playgrounds
Community sporting activities in parks and reserves
Outdoor gyms
Manly and Warringah aquatic centres
All community centres
Glen Street, Dee Why and Forestville library branches and community libraries
Glen Street Theatre
Manly Art Gallery and Museum
Creative Space in North Curl Curl
Manly Visitor Information Centre
Kimbriki Buy Back Centre and the Eco House & Garden
Environmental centres and programs
The Aboriginal Heritage Office in Freshwater
Council managed golf and tennis courts

“The temporary closures we are announcing for the next three days are in the interest of everyone’s health and safety and really important while the contact tracers continue to do their work and NSW Health get more of a sense on where we stand,” Mayor Michael Regan said.

“It is as important as ever that our community follow the health advice – stay home, stay within family groups, wash hands and if any symptoms appear please get tested.”

In addition to these venues, Harbord Diggers will be closed until Monday December 21 and Mona Vale Golf Cub and Narrabeen RSL are both closed “until further notice”.

Council will continue operating essential services such as waste collection, childcare, Meals on Wheels and road maintenance.

Visitors to 30 Sydney sites urged to get tested

NSW Health has increased the number of possible community transmission sites on the northern beaches to 30.

Anyone who visited the locations – which include several supermarkets, a Commonwealth Bank branch and a Chemist Warehouse outlet – has been urged to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Below is the full list of sites:

Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park Street, Mona Vale, December 13, 12-12.30pm.
Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, December 13, 12.45-1.30pm.
Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, December 13, 14 and 15, 9-9.30am.
Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Road, Palm Beach, December 14, 9.30-10.30am.
Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 14, 5-5.30pm.
Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 14, 5.20‑5.25pm.
Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.15pm.
Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.20pm.
Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Road, Artarmon, December 15, 2-2.30pm.
HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, December 15, 4.30-4.45pm.
Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, December 15, 4.45-4.55pm.
North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Road, Avalon Beach, December 15, 6-6.05pm.
Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, December 16, 7‑7.30am.
Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, December 16, 8am-9am.
Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, December 16, 2pm-2.05pm.
Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 16, 3.30-3.50pm.

NSW Health also said a confirmed case travelled between the following stations on December 14 at the following times. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Roseville to Redfern, 6.50-7.40am.
Redfern to Milsons Point, 11.20am-11.45am.
Milsons Point to Roseville, 3.15-3.40pm

Earlier, NSW Health announced the following locations and times:

Self-isolate and get tested

Avalon: Avalon RSL Club - Friday, December 11 (all day).
Avalon Beach: Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), 4 Bowling Green Lane - Sunday, December 13 (5pm to 7pm) and Tuesday, December 15 (3pm to 5pm).
Avalon Beach: Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Road - Monday, December 14 (7pm to 8pm).
Avalon Beach: Baramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Road - Monday, December 14 (2pm to 3.30pm).
Avalon Beach: The Sneaky Grind Café - Monday, December 14 (9.30am to 11am).
Kirribilli: Kirribilli Club - Monday, December 14 (12pm to 3pm).
Palm Beach: Palm Beach female change rooms (in toilet block with small change area at the swimming pool at the southern end) - Sunday, December 13 (9am to 9.15am).
Palm Beach: Coast Palm Beach Café, Barrenjoey Road - Sunday, December 13 (10am to 11am).
Penrith: Penrith RSL Club - Sunday, December 13 (1pm to 6pm).

Monitor for symptoms

Avalon: Hungry Ghost Café, 20 Avalon Parade - Sunday, December 13 (9.30am to 11am), Tuesday, December 15 (9.30am to 11am).
Avalon Beach: Woolworths, 74 Barrenjoey Road - Sunday, December 13 (12pm to 5pm), Tuesday, December 15 (12pm to 12.30pm).
Avalon Beach: Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, 1 Careel Head Road - Monday, December 14 (9am to 9.15am).
Mona Vale: Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Road - Monday, December 14 (4.30pm to 4.45pm).
Peakhurst: Gannons Park, Forest Rangers FC, Little Rangers session - Friday, December 11 (4.30pm to 5.30pm).

States impose travel restrictions on NSW a week before Christmas

The travel plans of many Australians have been thrown into chaos a week before Christmas with a raft of new travel restrictions announced overnight in response to the northern beaches cluster.

Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania all announced new rules late on Thursday for travellers who had been in NSW, with further announcements likely to be made throughout Friday.

Here’s a state-by-state look at what restrictions are now in place:

Queensland

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since Friday, December 11, 2020 and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.
Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since Friday, December 11, 2020 and arrived in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after midnight on Thursday (last night) must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.
Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since Friday, December 11, 2020 and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am on Saturday, December 19, 2020 must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches, and get tested.

Victoria

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since Friday, December 11, 2020 and is already in Victoria should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.
Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since Friday, December 11, 2020 and arrives in Victoria after midnight on Thursday (last night) must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.
The Victorian Government will announce further advice for travellers arriving into Victoria from the northern beaches or other NSW exposure sites after midnight on Saturday, December 10, 2020 later on Friday.

Western Australia

Effective from 12.01am on Friday, December 18, anyone arriving from NSW will now be required to:

self-quarantine in a suitable premise for 14 days
be tested for COVID-19 on day 11

Anyone who has arrived from NSW from Friday, December 11, 2020 or was in NSW from December 11 and subsequently arrived in WA before 12.01am on Friday, December 18 will be required to follow updated arrangements, which include:

The requirement to self-quarantine in a suitable premise as soon as possible
To present for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible
Return to self-quarantine until a negative test result is confirmed
Undertake a further test on day 11 after arrival in WA

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has declared the northern beaches area a “hotspot”.

Anyone from the northern beaches area entering the Northern Territory will need to quarantine for 14 days.

Tasmania

Tasmania has also declared the northern beaches area a “hotspot”.

Anyone who has been in the northern beaches area on or since Friday, December 11, is not permitted to enter Tasmania.

Sydney’s northern beaches cluster grows to 17

By Megan Levy

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, as NSW contact tracers try to rein in an outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Late on Thursday, an additional 12 COVID-19 cases were detected in the area, prompting NSW Health to ask people living within the Northern Beaches Local Government Area to work from home and remain there as much as possible.

People line up to get a COVID-19 test at a pop-up testing site in Avalon on Thursday.Credit:Nick Moir

Amid growing concern over the outbreak, a number of states and the Northern Territory imposed new travel rules for people from NSW.

Separate to the northern beaches cluster, a 45-year-old van driver who transports airline crew to and from Sydney Airport tested positive on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is due to provide an update on the situation. We’ll bring you the latest developments as they happen.

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2020-12-17 20:28:00Z
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