Urgent health alert as 18 new venues including one of Sydney's most popular pubs are exposed to coronavirus - with eastern and southern suburbs now affected amid worrying development with northern beaches gym
An urgent health alert has been issued for 18 more venues across Sydney, including a string of popular pubs and restaurants in Manly.
NSW Health on Sunday evening announced a list of new venues in Sydney's northern beaches, lower north shore, southern and eastern suburbs have been visited by confirmed COVID-19 cases.
It comes after the northern beaches cluster surged to 68 coronavirus cases. Out of 30 new cases reported on Sunday, 28 have already been linked to the Avalon RSL and the Avalon Bowlo - and two more are believed to be related to the cluster.
Anyone who visited Manly Wharf Bar on Saturday December 12 between 2:45pm and 3:15pm should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
NSW Health also advised anyone who was at the Steyne Hotel on the same day between 3pm and 3:30pm to get tested and isolate at home.
Shoppers who attended Woolworths at Riverwood Plaza in Sydney's south on Wednesday December 9 between 3pm 3:35pm should get tested immediately and isolate.
Among the other new venues now on a public health alert is Cronulla Mall, Old Manly Boat Shed, BoThai restaurant in Crows Nest and Mona Vale Golf Club.
Health authorities are also investigating a theory that positive coronavirus cases may have visited Anytime Fitness in Avalon as far back as November 23 - weeks before an elderly couple tested positive on December 16.
Hundreds of people who visited the gym on December 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 have already been forced into 14-day self-isolation over the Christmas period.
Anyone who visited Manly Wharf Bar on Saturday December 12 between 2:45pm and 3:15pm should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result
NSW Health also advised anyone who was at the Steyne Hotel on the same day between 3pm and 3:30pm to get tested and isolate at home
The COVID-19 cluster ballooned to 70 cases after 30 new infections were announced on Sunday - 28 of which are linked to the cluster on the northern beaches. Pictured: a testing clinic in Darlinghurst
Shoppers who attended Woolworths at Riverwood Plaza in Sydney's south on Wednesday December 9 between 3pm 3:35pm should get tested immediately and isolate
New venues on a public health alert - announced Sunday evening
Anyone who was at the following venues on the dates and at the times below is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esplanade and Stuart Street, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 2.30pm
Donny's Bar, 7 Market Place, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3:15pm – 9pm
Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 9pm – 12:30am
Rusti Fig, 3/363 Barrenjoey Road, Newport: Saturday 12 December, 9am – 10:30am
Café Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Road, Neutral Bay: Sunday 13 December, 12:45pm – 2.30pm
BoThai, 16 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest: Sunday 13 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Salon X, 86 William Street, Paddington: Wednesday 16 December, 9am – 6pm and Thursday 17 December, 9am – 8pm
Mona Vale Golf Club (bar and function room), 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 5pm – 10pm
Garfish Seafood Restaurant, 39 East Esplanade, Manly: Thursday 17 December, 6:45pm – 8:30pm
Anyone who attended the following venues on the dates and times below is considered a casual contact and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:
Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Road, Riverwood: Wednesday 9 December, 3pm – 3:35pm
Nourished Wholefood Café, 17 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach: Saturday 12 December, 7.15am-7.30am
Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
The Steyne Hotel, 75 The Corso, Manly: Saturday 12 December, 3pm – 3:30pm
Cronulla Mall, 6 Cronulla Street Cronulla: Tuesday 15 December, 8pm – 9pm and Wednesday 16 December, 3pm – 6pm
Navy Bear Café, RAN Sailing Association, 1C New Beach Rd, Darling Point: Sunday 13 December, 10.30am – 4.45pm
Restaurant Lovat, G04/316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Saturday 12 December 2:15pm – 2:25pm and 4pm – 4:15pm
Mona Vale Golf Club, 3 Golf Avenue, Mona Vale: Wednesday 16 December, 11am – 5pm
Anytime Fitness, 7 Taronga Place, Mona Vale, on Thursday 17 December between 9.50am and 12.45pm
G Fitness, 72/80 Evans Street, Freshwater, on Tuesday 15 December between 11am and 12.45pm
4 Pines, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport, on Wednesday 16 December between 4.30pm-9pm
Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Double Bay: Any staff working on Tuesday 15 December, and patrons seated in the indoor section on that day for more than 1 hour between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm.
NSW Health also announced two new bus routes which have been exposed to the virus.
The alert is for the 199 bus departing from the Newport Hotel on Saturday December 12 at 7am, arriving at Avalon Beach at 7.15am.
Bus 199, which departed Avalon Beach at 12.20am and arrived at Newport Hotel at 12.45am on the same day, was also exposed.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday urged all NSW residents to wear a mask while shopping or in an indoor setting where social distancing can't be maintained, such as office buildings.
'If you're going into an indoor setting or anywhere where social distancing can't be maintained, please wear a mask,' she said.
'And, for heaven's sake, do not get on public transport unless you are wearing a mask.
'We can't stress that enough.'
The total number of known coronavirus cases in NSW has now risen to 70.
'The one positive is we still have not seen evidence of massive seeding outside the northern beaches community and our aim, of course, is to keep that in place,' Ms Berejiklian said.
The government has imposed a number of restrictions on the Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, which will remain in place until 11.59pm Wednesday.
Cronulla Mall was visited by a confirmed COVID case on Tuesday 15 December between 8pm and 9pm and Wednesday 16 December between 3pm and 6pm
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday urged all NSW residents to wear a mask while shopping or in an indoor setting where social distancing can't be maintained, such as office buildings
Scenes of panic buying reminiscent of the first wave in March have swept across supermarkets in recent days. Pictured: a supermarket in the Northern Beaches
Travel restrictions for NSW
Western Australia - All NSW residents are banned from entering WA from 12am on Sunday, December 20. Anyone who enters the state from this date will be 'sent back', according to Premier Mark McGowan.
Victoria - Everyone from NSW must apply for a permit to enter. Victoria has banned all residents from Greater Sydney and the Central Coast from entering the state from 11.59pm on Sunday. Victorians returning home will be given an extra 24hours to get back and will be let in until 11.59pm on Monday. They will be asked to get a test and self-isolate at home.
Northern Territory - Anyone who enters NT from Sydney's Northern Beaches Council area will need to undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine.
South Australia - South Australia is requiring anyone arriving from Greater Sydney from 11.59pm on Sunday to self-quarantine for 14 days. Anyone who has entered on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be asked to get tested but does not have to self-isolate for two weeks.
Queensland - Queensland will shut its borders to Greater Sydney residents from 1am on Monday. Locals returning to the Sunshine State will be allowed to enter until 1am on Tuesday but must isolate at home.
ACT - All people entering the ACT from Greater Sydney will be required to quarantine from midnight on Sunday.
Tasmania - Northern Beaches residents banned. All people from Greater Sydney must also quarantine upon entry.
No more than 10 people are allowed at household gatherings and patrons will need to maintain a four-square metre distancing at venues.
Up to 300 people will be permitted at places of worship and hospitality venues, while singing and chanting at indoor venues is banned, and dance floors will only be allowed at weddings.
NSW residents are being told to avoid visiting any vulnerable friends, relatives or aged-care facilities until Christmas Eve.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said that while mask wearing isn't mandatory at this stage, it's in the hands of people in the state.
'Even when I have been driving I have seen incredible increase in mask wearing,' she said.
'People have sent me photos of supermarkets where the vast majority of people are wearing a mask.
'So we have had a lot of co-operation from both the community and business.'
Scenes of panic buying reminiscent of the first wave in March have swept across supermarkets in recent days.
'Supermarkets ... will continue to remain open no matter what, whether it is the Northern Beaches or outside the Northern Beaches,' Ms Berejiklian said.
Sydney's northern beaches remains the centre of the cluster, but NSW Health's new list of cases on Sunday morning showed the virus had spread further in the city.
There are new cases are in Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and North Sydney.
There are public health alerts for various northern beaches venues and businesses in Avalon, Belrose, Brookvale, Dee Why, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Newport, North Narrabeen and Palm Beach.
The government has imposed a number of restrictions on the Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, which will remain in place until 11.59pm Wednesday
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said that while mask wearing isn't mandatory at this stage, it's in the hands of people in the state
There are also warnings for locations in Artarmon, Bondi Junction, Cronulla, Darling Point, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Homebush, Kirribilli, Lane Cove, Newtown, Peakhurst, Penrith, St Peters, Riverstone, Rosebury, Surry Hills, Terry HIlls, Turramurra and Woolloomooloo.
Outside Sydney, Forster and Raymond Terrace are also on the warning list.
Northern beaches residents remain under stay-at-home orders last imposed back in March at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
People are permitted to leave their homes for five basic reasons: to seek medical care, exercise, grocery shop, work or for compassionate care reasons.'
Prof Chant said that contact tracers are yet to locate patient zero, but an extensive investigation is underway.
She said no one who has been granted quarantine exemptions, including international flight crews, had tested positive for the virus.
However, Dr Chant conceded that contact tracers may never be able to find patient zero.
'While we really do want to find the source, it may be that this is going to be a challenge beyond us, but we are doing everything we can,' Dr Chant said.
Holidaymakers have rushed to Sydney Airport to flee the harbour city as the Northern Beaches coronavirus cluster continues to grow
Most travellers wore face masks in the terminal, with the growing outbreak threatening Christmas plans for families across the nation
Thousands of travellers packed into terminal queues at Sydney airport on Sunday, with many desperate to travel interstate before border restrictions come into play
Elsewhere on Sunday, thousands of Sydneysiders flooded airport terminals in a desperate bid to leave the Harbour City before harsh new border restrictions come into play.
Check-in terminals were packed with tourists, with most wearing face masks, as the growing outbreak threatens to ruin holiday plans for families across the country.
Western Australia has banned all NSW residents from visiting from midnight on Sunday, while South Australia, ACT, the NT and Tasmania have similar rules requiring Sydneysiders to quarantine for 14 days.
Victorians are allowed to return home without mandatory hotel quarantine until 11.59pm on Monday, but will be required to self-isolate.
Queensland's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced similar restrictions on Sunday afternoon, banning those from Greater Sydney from her state from 1am on Monday - when the city becomes an official hot spot.
For Queenslanders returning home from Greater Sydney, they have until 1am on Tuesday to cross the border and will have to take a test and self-isolate if they arrive on Monday.
South Australia is requiring anyone arriving from Greater Sydney after 11.59pm on Sunday to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Anyone who has entered on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be asked to get tested but does not have to self-isolate for two weeks. Both states have already banned Northern Beaches residents.
All people entering the ACT from Greater Sydney will be required to quarantine from midnight on Sunday.
Full list of Sydney hotspots
Anyone who has visited the following venues on the stated dates and times should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of symptoms.
Avalon: Anytime Fitness, Avalon Parade
Tuesday 8 December
Monday 23 November to Monday 7 December
Avalon: Avalon RSL Club
Friday 11 December All day until closed
Monday 14 December 5pm to 10:30pm
Tuesday 15 December12pm to 5pm
Wednesday 16 December4pm to 12am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), 4 Bowling Green Lane
Sunday 13 December 5pm to 7pm
Tuesday 15 December 3pm to 5pm
Avalon Beach: Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant
Monday 14 December 7pm to 8pm
Avalon Beach: Barramee Thai Massage and Spa
Monday 14 December 2pm to 3:30pm
Avalon Beach: Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants
Monday 14 December
Tuesday 15 December
Wednesday 16 December
Thursday 17 December
Avalon Beach: Sneaky Grind Café
Monday 14 December 9:30am to 11am
Avalon Beach: Sunset Diner
Friday 11 December 6:30pm to 8pm
Cronulla: Cronulla RSL
Wednesday 16 December 5pm to closing
Cronulla: Pilgrims Vegetarian Café
Wednesday 16 December 11:30am to 2:30pm
Erskineville: Rose of Australia
Tuesday 15 December 7pm to 8:45pm
Forster: Café Toscano (outdoor verandah area)
Wednesday 16 December 6pm to 7:45pm
Kirribilli: Kirribilli Club
Monday 14 December 12pm to 3pm
Lane Cove: Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre
Friday 11 December 3:30pm to 5pm
Mona Vale: Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre
Sunday 13 December 2pm to 4pm
Monday 14 December 10:30am to 12:30pm
Wednesday 16 December 8:30am to 10am
Narrabeen: The Sands
Tuesday 15 December 6pm to 8pm
Newport: 4 Pines Newport
Tuesday 15 December 6pm to 10pm
Newport: Rusti Fig
Saturday 12 December 9am to 10am
Palm Beach: Palm Beach female change rooms
Sunday 13 December 9am to 9:15am
Palm Beach: Coast Palm Beach Café
Sunday 13 December 10am to 11am
Penrith: Penrith RSL Club
Sunday 13 December 1pm to 6pm
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School
Tuesday 15 December 10am to 12pm
Surry Hills: Nomad Restaurant
Wednesday 16 December 12:45pm to 2pm
Surry Hills: Strawberry Hills Hotel
Wednesday 16 December 3:30pm to 6pm
Turramurra: Salon of Hair
Tuesday 15 December 10am to 3pm
Wednesday 16 December 9:30am to 3:30pm
Thursday 17 December 9:30am to 3:30pm
Friday 18 December 9:30am to 3:30pm
Woolloomooloo: Sienna Marina
Friday 11 December 12pm to 2pm