Massive Covid breach as it's revealed infected health care worker transported sick overseas travellers AND an aged care resident – as Gladys Berejiklian's Christmas rules are dubbed a 'recipe for confusion'
A Covid-positive health care worker who drove infected returned travellers into hotel quarantine also transported a retirement village resident.
The major breach was discovered after the resident of Anglicare's Brian King Gardens in Castle Hill was identified as a close contact with a patient transport worker after being taken to a medical appointment.
The nurse who transports sick returned travellers to quarantine tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reports.
NSW Health authorities are now trying to figure out how the nurse was allowed to transport both elderly patients and returned travellers.
Fortunately the resident and staff at the retirement home have tested negative, but it won't be known if they have dodged contracting the virus until 14 days after they were exposed.
The major breach was spotted after the resident of Anglicare's Brian King Gardens in Castle Hill was identified as a close contact with a patient transport worker after being taken to a medical appointment
The Northern Beaches is being split into two sections at the Narrabeen Bridge, with those in the northern section where the cluster is centred suffering harsher Christmas restrictions than those in the south
Meanwhile, Premier Gladys Berejiklian's raft of Christmas restrictions that will effectively split NSW into four zones have been labelled a 'recipe for confusion'
It was initially believed the nurse caught the virus from an infected family returning from the US while driving them to hotel quarantine on December 14.
But chief health officer Kerry Chant said the nurse 'did not acquire their infection through transporting the patients that had the COVID-19 infection'.
Dr Chant said a colleague of the nurse was one of Wednesday's eight new cases, and both are linked to the Avalon cluster.
A spokeswoman for HealthShare NSW, a government agency providing delivery of patient care, said a bungle led to the nurse being in close proximity with the elderly patient.
'HealthShare will ensure this situation cannot occur in future,' the spokeswoman said.
The resident exposed to Covid is now self-isolating.
NSW recorded just eight new local cases of Covid-19, taking the northern beaches cluster which emerged seven days ago to 97.
Meanwhile, Premier Gladys Berejiklian's raft of Christmas restrictions that will effectively split NSW into four zones have been labelled a 'recipe for confusion'.
The northern beaches is being split into two sections at the Narrabeen Bridge, with those in the northern section where the cluster is centred suffering harsher Christmas restrictions than those in the south.
They are not allowed to leave or welcome people from outside the area but will be allowed five visitors to their homes on December 24, 25 and 26 before lockdown rules banning home visits resume.
Those south of the Narrabeen Bridge cannot leave the northern beaches but can welcome 10 visitors into their homes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, including people from anywhere in NSW.
NSW recorded just eight new local cases of Covid-19, taking the northern beaches cluster which emerged seven days ago to 97
What are the Christmas Covid restrictions for NSW?
On December 24, 25 and 26, the following conditions will be in place:
For the Northern Beaches peninsula zone (North of Narrabeen Bridge, and east of the Baha'i Temple):
· There is a new reason for leaving home: to visit the home of others who live within this zone.
· Up to 5 visitors (total, including children) will be allowed in homes as long as they reside in the peninsula zone.
· People may not enter or leave this zone, unless for the four approved reasons already in place.
· On December 27, the region will revert to existing restrictions.
For the remainder (southern zone) of the Northern Beaches:
· There is a new reason for leaving home: to visit the home of others who live within this zone.
· Up to 10 visitors (plus primary school children and younger) will be allowed in homes. This may include people from outside this zone, not including the Northern Beaches peninsula zone.
· People who reside outside the northern beaches are allowed to visit others in this zone.
· Residents of this zone may not leave, unless for the four approved reasons already in place.
· We will reassess restrictions in this zone following Boxing Day.
For the Greater Sydney region, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains:
· Current restrictions that were due to expire at midnight tonight will remain in place.
· However, primary school aged children and younger will be allowed on top of the current 10 visitors cap for homes.
· On December 27, the region will revert to existing restrictions.
Restrictions for Regional NSW remain unchanged.
In addition, as of 1 January 2021, hospitality venues and hairdressers will be required to use the NSW Government QR code system.
Decisions on New Year's Eve and upcoming sporting events will be made after this Christmas period.
'If you're a resident of the northern part of the northern beaches, if you live north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Bahai Temple at Mona Vale roads, you cannot leave your area. You are still in lockdown,' Ms Berejiklian said of the area around Avalon.
'You can't accept anybody outside your community and I apologise for that but we have to maintain a lockdown in that area.'
The government will decide on Boxing Day if residents south of the Narrabeen Bridge will go back into lockdown on 27 December.
The rest of Greater Sydney is classed as another zone which is separate from regional NSW.
Northern beaches residents aired their frustration on Twitter. 'What a joke,' one person said of the new measures.
'A recipe for confusion,' said another.
Labor Senator Kristina Keneally blasted Ms Berejiklian for being too vague about the new guidelines.
'Can you please provide an accurate map of the Northern Beaches divide ASAP?' Ms Keneally said.
NSW Health cleared up confusion about the border division between north and south shortly after.
Meanwhile other Sydneysiders took issue with the premier choosing to relax restrictions ahead of two superspreading events - Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
'The NSW government wants to ease restrictions for Greater Sydney for 3 days, and then revert back to current restrictions. I didn't know COVID was taking a break over Christmas', wrote one person.
'Investigations continue into the source of the Avalon cluster. Hey, why not ease restrictions for three days,' another quipped.
Ms Berejiklian said the state government has introduced 'modest tweaks and modest changes'.
' accounts for the fact that everybody has had a very difficult year and some people's stress levels and mental health capacity is already at breaking point,' she said on Wednesday.
Restrictions for regional NSW will remain unchanged, while up to 10 people and unlimited children aged under 12 will be allowed to gather on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day across Greater Sydney.
Seven of the cases reported on Wednesday were linked to the northern beaches cluster, but an eighth is a contact of an infected quarantine nurse.
An almost deserted Avalon Beach on Tuesday. The area is normally crowded with Christmas and summer holidaymakers
Patrons of the iconic Bondi Icebergs have been urged to get tested and self isolate after a positive case visited on Sunday December 20 and Monday December 21
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said genomic testing has linked those cases with the cluster, but authorities are still trying to find the person who spread the virus to the pair.
Genomic sequencing has shown that the healthcare worker's virus is linked to the Avalon cluster but it is not clear how they caught the disease so they remain classified as unlinked.
On Wednesday night NSW Health announced new venues added to the public health alert list.
Patrons of the iconic Bondi Icebergs have been urged to get tested and self isolate after a positive case visited on Sunday December 20 and Monday December 21.
NSW Health advised anyone who visited the food court at the MLC building in Martin Place on Tuesday, December 22 to get tested and isolate until they test negative.
Patorns who attended De’assis Collaroy Cafe on Saturday December 12 between 9:15am and 10:10am should monitor for symptoms.
Public health alert venues announced at 9.30pm Wednesday
MUST GET TESTED AND SELF ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS:
Avalon: Alma Avalon Restaurant, 47 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach on Wednesday 16 December, 8.30pm until close
Macquarie Park: Premier Academy League Under 8s Macquarie University Soccer Fields, Macquarie University Soccer Fields, Macquarie Park on Sunday 13 December 9.15am – 10.45am
Mona Vale: Mona Vale Fitness First, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, 10 Park St Mona Vale on Thursday December 17 all day
MUST GET TESTED AND ISOLATE UNTIL NEGATIVE:
Sydney: MLC Building food court, 19 Martin Pl Sydney on Tuesday December 15 1pm-2pm
MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS:
Collaroy: De’assis Collaroy Cafe, Shop 2/1091 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy on Saturday December 12 9:15am-10:10am
GET TESTED AND ISOLATE UNTIL FURTHER INFORMATION FROM NSW HEALTH:
Bondi: Bondi Icebergs Club (Pool Deck Level) 1 Notts Ave Bondi Beach on Sunday December 20 8-9:30am andMonday December 21 7am-8am
GET TESTED AND ISOLATE UNTIL NEGATIVE:
B1-1: Wednesday 16 December, 6.50am – 7.45am. Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd Wynyard Station Stand B
B1-2: Wednesday 16 December, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Wynyard Station Stand B Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd
199-49: Thursday 17 December, 11am to 11.25am. Barrenjoey Rd opp George St Barrenjoey Rd opp Village Park
B1-1: Thursday 17 December, 11.30am to 12.36pm. Mona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd Wynyard Station, York St, Stand M
B1-2: Thursday 17 December, 4.15pm to 5.15pm. Wynyard Station, Carrington St, Stand B Mona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd
188X-2: Thursday 17 December, 5.20pm to 5.40pm. Mona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd Barrenjoey Rd after George St
B1-1: Wednesday 16 December, 6.50am to 7.45am. Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd Wynyard Station Stand B
B1-2: Wednesday 16 December, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Wynyard Station Stand B Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd
199-49: Thursday 17 December, 11am to 11.25am. Barrenjoey Rd opp George St Barrenjoey Rd opp Village Park
B1-1: Thursday 17 December, 11.30am to 12.36pm. Mona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd Wynyard Station, York St, Stand M
B1-2: Thursday 17 December, 4.15pm to 5.15pm. Wynyard Station, Carrington St, Stand BMona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd
188X-2: Thursday 17 December, 5.20pm to 5.40pm. Mona Vale BLine, Barrenjoey Rd Barrenjoey Rd after George St
MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS:
Wynyard to Milsons Point on Thursday 17 December between 12.39pm and departing 12.46pm;
Milsons Points to Wynyard on Thursday 17 December between 4pm and 4.11pm.