Coronavirus NSW: Three schools shut down as Sydney clusters grow
Three schools and a childcare centre in Sydney have closed as the city remains on high alert after recording the most locally acquired cases in one day in its recent surge in infections.
Fort Street High School in the inner western suburb of Petersham, Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights and Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary school in Bossley Park, both in western Sydney, have all closed.
All three have undergone deep cleaning and while Fort Street High School is awaiting results of a possible case, the other two schools, where a student at each tested positive, will now be closed until August 10.
“The safety and well-being of staff and students is our key priority at all times,” Sydney Catholic Schools said in a statement.
Everlearn Preschool in Prestons, in southwest Sydney, has also been closed due to a confirmed case, local MP Melanie Gibbons confirmed, however it is unclear if it is a student or member of staff.
On Thursday, the state reported 18 new coronavirus cases, with just two of those detected in hotel quarantine.
On Wednesday, the state announced a further 19 cases, 17 of which were locally acquired. It is the highest number of locally acquired cases in the state since the Crossroads Hotel cluster began in early July.
Sydney’s coronavirus clusters
While the current active cases are centred around the city’s west, with 16 active in Constitution Hill (postcode 2145) and 13 in Casula (2170), the virus is starting to spread in Sydney’s east following four active cases in the inner suburb of Potts Point (2011).
There is now one active case each in postcodes 2026 and 2030, which include Bondi and Vaucluse.
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There is also an active case in the inner west suburb of Newtown.
Ten of Wednesday’s cases are connected to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park, western Sydney, taking the size of that cluster to 85.
Thai Rock's sister restaurant in Potts Point was connected to two additional cases, taking the size of that cluster to seven, including a case linked to The Apollo restaurant, which is nearby.
Both restaurants and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia at Rushcutters Bay were closed for cleaning. Two people subsequently discovered to have the virus had visited the club.
The rising number of cases in Sydney has prompted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to ban all Greater Sydney residents from entering the state from Saturday.
with AAP
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