Two Sydney shopping centres linked to coronavirus outbreak
Two Sydney shopping centres have been linked to new coronavirus cases as new hotspots continue to emerge.
Carlingford Court in Sydney’s northwest and Big W at Carnes Hill Marketplace in the city’s southwest underwent deep cleanings on Monday night after NSW Health confirmed infected people had visited the retail centres.
NSW announced 13 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 10 of the people linked to the Thai Rock Restaurant outbreak at Stockland Mall Wetherill Park.
“Four dined at the restaurant and six are contacts of people who dined there. The two cases reported on Monday at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral are contacts of a diner at Thai Rock,” NSW Health said in a statement.
The remaining three new cases are two people linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster and one overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.
Coronavirus cases visit Sydney shopping centres
An infected person visited Vanity Nails in Carlingford Court on Saturday, July 18 between 9am and 10.30am. The salon has since been sanitised and the centre underwent a deep clean.
“We have received no advice which indicates there was any risk to other customers or retail team members who visited Carlingford Court,” staff wrote on the centre’s website.
Another virus case visited Big W in Carnes Hill Marketplace on July 14 at 4.20pm for about 20 minutes.
It was also initially reported a person suspected of having COVID-19 visited the Ledang Family Medical Centre located inside Cincotta Discount Chemist at Cabramatta Plaza on Friday, July 17 between 4:50pm to 5:10pm, however it was later revealed the patient tested negative.
“Regardless, the centre is closed today as a precaution,” the centre’s medical staff wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
NSW Health on Monday afternoon directed anyone who attended Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park between July 15 to 17 to self-isolate for 14 days and come forward for testing after a confirmed case's visit.
Meanwhile NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned the public against attending a Black Lives Matter protest planned for Sydney next week.
Mr Fuller says NSW Police will attempt to block the planned July 28 protest in the Supreme Court and urged the public to not be "selfish".
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Gladys Berejiklian declines to mandate masks
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists she won't jump ahead of health advice by mandating the wearing of masks in public amid a growing coronavirus case load.
She said social distancing remained more important, while NSW Health on Tuesday said it encouraged residents to avoid non-essential travel.
"What NSW Health and myself are worried about most at this moment in time is what people are doing when they're entering hospitality venues... you can't wear a mask when you're having a meal," Ms Berejiklian told 2GB radio.
"That's where the biggest risk is at the moment, indoor events.
"The health advice to date has served NSW extremely well and it's not for politicians to make this stuff up as we go."
NSW will from Wednesday enforce tougher border restrictions for people wanting to enter the state from Victoria with a border zone to be set up along the Murray River, and outstanding travel permits to be cancelled.
Ms Berejiklian said NSW had the chance to get ahead of the virus if residents socially distance over the next few weeks and warned hospitality venues faced major penalties if they failed to ensure social distancing.
"We've seen numerous examples now where it only takes one person or two people to have the virus and then you end up having to contact 6000 people because of the flow-on effect," Ms Berejiklian said.
"This can get away from us very quickly which is why I'd rather everyone do the right thing now while we can still be in a position to control the spread."
with AAP
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