As Victoria continues to record high new case numbers, there is also growing concern about the community spread of COVID-19 in NSW.
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The outbreak linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula has hit 21 cases this afternoon, and a number of other venues - including some in the Sutherland Shire and South Coast have been warned about potential contamination after people who have since tested positive visited them during their infectious period.
This afternoon, NSW's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant gave an update on the state's situation.
1 The Crossroads Hotel Casula outbreak continues to grow
The number of infections linked to a Casula pub outbreak has now hit 21, with 10 cases thought to be contracted at the hotel and 11 which are linked to those cases.
Dr Chant said there had been an additional seven cases reported since midday today which are linked to the hotel.
These included a South West Sydney man in his 40s who had dinner at the hotel on July 3, and South Western Sydney woman in her 20s, and a man in his 30s.
Four further cases have been identified who were close cases of the cases contracted at the hotel: -two teens, a child and a man in his 30s.
One further case was a "tertiary case", meaning it was a contact of a contact from the hotel.
"I think this highlight the importance of contact tracing efforts," Dr Chant said.
"You can see how rapidly covid can spread if we do not act promptly."
Earlier today, eight of the new cases reported this morning were linked to the Crossroads Hotel, including a teenage pub worker, a Sydney woman in her 40s and a Victorian man in his 20s who had already been revealed to have tested positive.
None of the new cases are believed to have been the source of infection at the hotel, according to NSW Health.
All patrons of the Casula pub, who entered from July 3 to 10, must now self-isolate and are being urged to get tested as a precaution.
Even if you get a negative test stay in isolation for 14 days.
Testing is available at Liverpool, Campbelltown and Fairfield Hospitals at these locations: https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/mediacentre/coronavirus/clinic_factsheet.pdf. Testing is also available through GP clinics.
The pop-up clinic in the carpark of the Crossroads Hotel is open until 5pm today.
2 NSW Health says contact tracing is vital to stopping the spread of the virus
As the Crossroads cluster continues to grow, Dr Chant said tracking down contacts of positive cases is vital to stopping the spread.
She also said state's situation is growing increasingly complicated as more locations are affected, and the virus spread through contacts of contacts.
To that end, NSW Health has put out a "wide ranging" list of venues which are on high alert after people who have now tested positive to the virus visited them at any time during their infectious period.
In addition to the venues mentioned below, these include:
- 6-10 July Planet Fitness, Casula
- 4 July Canterbury Leagues Club
- 4,5 July Murray Downs Golf Club
- 6 July Narellan Town Centre shoppingtown, at Kmart, Target, Best and Less, H&M and the food court
- 27 June Zone Bowling at Villawood
"Whilst our focus is being drawn to the Crossroads Hotel, there is a message for the community more broadly, you need to come forward and get tested," Dr Chant said.
"Anyone who attended these venues should watch for any COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if they show any symptoms."
The Star casino in Sydney is also assisting NSW with inquiries after a man who was playing poker machines between 8pm and 10.30pm on July 4 tested positive to the virus.
"The Star has today been informed by NSW Health that a patron who visited The Star Sydney on Saturday, 4 July 2020 from around 7.30pm to 10.30pm has returned a positive test for COVID-19," Star Entertainment Group said in a statement lodged to the ASX.
3 The outbreak is edging closer to home for Illawarra residents
Picton Hotel is closed for cleaning on Monday after a patron tested positive for COVID-19, after visiting the Crossroads Hotel in Casula on July 3.
The individual also attended the Picton Hotel during their infectious period, using the gaming room on July, 4, 5, 9 and 10.
NSW is urging people who were at the hotel, especially in the gaming room to isolate for 14 days and get tested.
A clinic will be set up at Picton's Imperial Hotel.
Read more: Picton Hotel closed due to COVID-19 concerns
4 The Sutherland Shire and South Coast are also on alert
A Caringbah hotel and Kurnell cafe, as well as two venues in Merimbula, have been linked to coronavirus cases diagnosed in Victoria.
NSW Health said Victoria Department of Health had reported "two Victorian cases separately attended several venues in NSW", including:
- 5 July lunch at Cook at Kurnell
- 5 July dinner at Highfield, Caringbah
- 6 July dinner at the Merimbula RSL
- 7 July breakfast at the Waterfront Café Merimbula
"While investigations are underway, NSW Health urges anyone who attended these venues at these times must watch for respiratory symptoms or fever, and if they occur, isolate and get tested for COVID-19 right away," the statement said.
5 Victoria recorded 177 new case numbers in 24 hours
Victoria has recorded 177 new coronavirus cases, with the state now recording up to five new outbreaks a day.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Monday one of the new cases is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine, 25 are connected to known outbreaks and 151 remain under investigation.
The state now has 1612 active cases, with 72 people in hospital and 17 of those in intensive care.
Mr Andrews said the virus had taken the lives of otherwise healthy people of all age groups.
"The notion this is simply something that will be tragic if you're very ill already and very old, that is simply not right," he said.
"This can have catastrophic outcomes, tragic outcomes for people who are otherwise healthy and people in any age group."
The new figure comes after the state experienced three consecutive days of case numbers exceeding 200.
Read more: Victoria records 177 more COVID-19 cases
- With AAP