NSW Health has confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and warned everyone in the area to be alert for even the mildest of symptoms.
Key points:
- The Northern Beaches cases have not been linked to any known cases
- A number of venues around Avalon have been put on high alert and contact tracing is underway
- Earlier today a man from south-western Sydney also tested positive to COVID-19
The source of the infections is under investigation, but so far no links to other known cases have been identified.
The infected people are a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s who are close contacts of each other.
Contact tracing and urgent genome sequencing are underway, with the genome sequencing results expected in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Earlier today, a van driver who shuttles flight crews to and from Sydney Airport also tested positive to COVID-19.
The man, who lives in south-western Sydney, was the state’s first locally acquired coronavirus infection since December 3.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said health officials suspect the man may have become infected after contact with international flight crew members.
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The two positive cases on the Northern Beaches visited a number of venues while infectious. Anyone who was at the following places should get tested and isolate for 14 days, even if they receive a negative test result:
- Hungry Ghost Cafe, Avalon, on December 13 between 9:30am and 11:00am and again on December 15 between 9:30am and 11:00am
- Palm Beach female change rooms on December 13 between 9:00am and 9:15 am
- Coast Palm Beach Cafe, Palm Beach, on December 13 between 10:00am and 11:00am
- Avalon Bowlo (bowling club) on December 13 between 5:00pm and 7:00pm and again on December 15 between 3:00pm and 5:00pm
- Sneaky Grind Cafe, Avalon Beach, on December 14 between 9:30am and 11:00am
- Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, Avalon Beach, on December 14 between 2:00pm and 2:30pm
- Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, Avalon Beach, on December 14 between 7:00pm and 8:00pm
People who visited the following venues should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:
- Oliver’s Pies, Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach, on December 14 between 9:00am and 9:15am
- Bing Lee, Mona Vale, on December 14 between 4:30pm and 4:45pm
- Woolworths, Avalon Beach, on December 13 between 12:00pm and 5:00pm and on December 15 between 12:00pm and 12:30pm
NSW Health says everyone living in the Northern Beaches area should monitor for symptoms and come forward for testing immediately if they appear.
The van driver who tested positive earlier attended a soccer match at Gannons Park in Peakhurst on Friday, December 11.
Anyone who attended the match between 4:30pm and 5:30pm is considered a casual contact.
The three people the man lives with have already returned negative COVID-19 results.
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