New Covid cluster in western Sydney is NOT linked to the Northern Beaches outbreak and started when a patient transfer driver infected BWS shoppers

An emerging new Covid-19 cluster in western Sydney is not linked to the Northern Beaches outbreak, NSW's health boss confirmed. 

NSW recorded eight new cases on Sunday, with five linked to the cluster from a BWS bottle shop in Berala, two household contacts of the Avalon cluster, and one a household contact of a known source in Wollongong.

Genomic sequencing found the Berala cluster and the northern beaches Avalon cluster are not linked, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said on Sunday.

The BWS outbreak, which has reached 13 cases, started after a family who returned from overseas infected a patient transport worker while being driven to a health facility. 

'Unfortunately one of the patient transport workers acquired the infection, passed it on to a colleague, and that colleague had been at the Berala BWS for a very fleeting amount of time,' Dr Chant said.   

The BWS outbreak, which has reached 13 cases, started after a family who had returned from overseas infected a patient transport worker while being transported to a health facility

The alert for the BWS now covers long periods on every day between December 22 and New Year's Eve, except Christmas Day

Berala BWS cluster health alert times and dates  

Anyone who visited BWS at Berala Shopping Centre at certain times from December 22 through to New Year's Eve is considered a close contact and should get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the test result:

Tuesday 22 December 2020 between 12:41pm to 9:15pm   

Wednesday 23 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 9:15pm

Thursday 24 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 9:15pm

Saturday 26 December 2020 between 9:55am to 7:15pm

Sunday 27 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 8:15pm

Monday 28 December 2020 between 8:30am to 7:15pm

Tuesday 29 December 2020 between 1:45pm to 9:15pm

Wednesday 30 December 2020 between 12:45am to 9:15pm

Thursday 31 December 2020 between 8:30am to 5pm 

 

NSW Health ramped up its alert for the bottle shop, with many of its customers over the Christmas holiday period now considered close contacts.

Dr Chant said on Saturday there was transmission at the venue from what appeared to be very brief exposures.

The alert for the Berala BWS now covers long periods on every day between December 22 and New Year's Eve, except Christmas Day.

'We have been dealing with two different strains that have been causing clusters,' she said. 

More than 2,000 people connected to the BWS store have been contacted and told to get tested and isolate.

'I know it was a busy period, but we are very concerned that transmission has occurred at this site and it is important because the duration of time means that someone who has previously been there could have actually transmitted it to another group of people,' Dr Chant said.  

On Saturday evening, NSW Health ramped up its alert for the Berala bottle shop, with many of its customers of the Christmas holiday period now considered to be close contacts.

The alert for the BWS now covers long periods on every day between December 22 and New Year's Eve, except Christmas Day. 

Dr Chant said anyone who attended the BWS at at those times should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the test result.

'We know these transmission events have happened through very minimal exposure, we are asking members of the community who did purchase alcohol or enter that premises for that period to be very vigilant and take the public health action of isolating for 14 days if you were there at those times,' Dr Chant said on Sunday. 

'Anyone living in the Berala area has also been asked to come forward for testing if they develop any symptoms associated with Covid-19.'   

Two of the cases are household contacts of the Avalon cluster, five are linked to the western Sydney Berala cluster and one is a household contact of a known source in Wollongong

Acting NSW Premier John Barilaro said testing rates have dramatically plunged, and urged all residents to get tested even if they have only mild symptoms

Three cases were detected in hotel quarantined travellers, out of 18,927 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.

The drastic fall in testing numbers has raised concern there could be more undetected positive cases out there. 

Acting NSW Premier John Barilaro urged all residents to get tested even if they have only mild symptoms.  

'We do need to increase that number of testing,' he told reporters on Sunday.

'The success of this state has come off the back of the large number of testing that's been happening right across the state. 

'Even though we are thankful for the 18,927 that came forward, we want to see those numbers get up, close to 20,000 or 30,000 people.'

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said an alarming amount of people may have been exposed to the virus in the area around Berala. 

'We're asking people from that area particularly to come forward and get tested... just over 18,000 people being tested is not what we would hope for,' he said.

'We've seen what Sydney can do, and Sydney can rise to the occasion. We're asking all of the community in western and south-west Sydney, or indeed in Wollongong to rise to the occasion again and go out and get tested.' 

All hospitality staff are also required to wear one, with anyone disobeying the health order to be fined $200 from Monday 

From 11.59pm Saturday, masks became mandatory in shopping centres, on public transport, in places of worship, hair and beauty premises and entertainment venues such as cinemas.

All hospitality staff are also required to wear one, with anyone disobeying the health order to be fined $200 from Monday.

Children under 12 and those with specific health disorders are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where possible.

Stay-at-home orders will continue for residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge in the northern beaches until at least January 9, but people in the southern half of the region will have the same restrictions as the rest of greater Sydney.

Restrictions imposed on businesses and gatherings include gym classes reduced to 30 people and places of worship and funerals limited to one person per four square metres, and up to 100 people per separate area.

Outdoor performances and protests are reduced to 500 people and controlled outdoor seated events reduced to 2,000.