Hundreds on high alert as Covid warnings sweep across Sydney

Josh Dutton
·News Reporter
Updated ·4-min read

More Sydney venues have been added to a growing Covid-19 watch list amid concerns about a cluster on Northern Beaches, with some close contacts forced to self-isolate through Christmas.

The Avalon cluster grew by 23 new cases on Saturday, which prompted other states to strengthen their borders against Sydney travellers.

As of 8pm (AEDT) on Friday, there were 38 infections linked to the cluster, according to NSW Health.

More cases were diagnosed after the 8pm cutoff on Saturday and will be announced on Sunday, with the premier indicating the outbreak will grow by the same number or more cases.

People wearing rain ponchos are seen lining up at a Covid-19 testing site at Mona Vale Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
People go for Covid tests at Mona Vale Hospital in Sydney. Source: Getty Images

Late on Saturday night, NSW Health added more venues to its list including some across Sydney’s CBD.

It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Saturday Greater Sydney faces a reintroduction of restrictions.

"To put everybody on notice, we will be considering today after consulting obviously with the relevant people, whether this time tomorrow we do revert back to some restrictions in Greater Sydney," she said.

"That is a possibility."

Passengers on a train from Milsons Point some wearing face masks.
People on a train from Milsons Point wear face masks as lockdown looms for Sydney. Source: Getty Images

These are the venues and locations added to the public health alert on Saturday night by NSW authorities:

Self-isolate for 14 days regardless of result if at venue for an hour or more

  • Nomad Restaurant, Surry Hills, Wednesday, 12.45pm – 2pm

  • Café Toscano (outdoor verandah area), Forster, Wednesday, 6pm – 7.45pm

  • Strawberry Hills Hotel, Surry Hills, Wednesday, 3.30pm – 6pm

Get tested and self-isolate regardless of test result

  • Avalon RSL, Avalon Beach, Monday, 6pm – 8pm

  • The Sands, Narrabeen, Tuesday, 6pm – 8pm

  • Salon for Hair, Turramurra, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am – 3.30 pm

  • Rose of Australia, Erskineville, Tuesday, 7pm – 8.45pm

  • Sydney Trapeze School, St Peters, Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (only staff and patrons who attended the class for beginners)

Get tested and self-isolate until receiving negative result

  • Mitre 10 Mona Vale, Tuesday, 8.30am – 5.30pm and Wednesday, 8.30am – 5.30pm

  • 2108 Espresso, Palm Beach, Monday, 8am – 9am

  • McDonald’s Raymond Terrace, Tuesday, 11.45am – 12.15pm

  • Warringah Mall, Wednesday, 10.40am – 1.40pm

  • High Tek Aquarium, Brookvale, Wednesday, 1.55pm – 2.55pm

  • Beach Bums Café, Forster, Wednesday, 8am – 9am and Thursday, 8am – 9am

  • Rose of Australia, Erskineville, Tuesday, after 8.45pm

  • Sydney Trapeze School, St Peters, Tuesday, any class after 10am

  • Cuckoo Callay, Crown St, Surry Hills, Tuesday, 11am – 12pm

  • Harris Farm Warehouse, Flemington Markets, Homebush, Tuesday, 2am – 11am, Wednesday, 2am – 11am, Thursday, 2am – 1pm

Train lines affected

  • T1 North Shore Line, Monday, departing Artarmon 8.27am, arriving Wynyard 8.49am

  • T1 North Shore Line, Monday, departing Wynyard 6.42pm, arriving Artarmon 7.01pm

  • T1 North Shore Line, Tuesday, departing Artarmon 9.17am, arriving Wynyard 9.38am

  • T3 Bankstown Line, Tuesday, departing St James 6.34pm arriving Erskineville 6.48pm

  • T3 Bankstown Line, Wednesday, departing Erskineville 7.03am, arriving Central 7.12am

A group of people sit on a bench at Sydney's Town Hall as some walk past with face masks.
Some people wear face masks at Town Hall in Sydney. Source: Getty Images

Additionally, anyone who attended Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade, Avalon on any day on or after December 8 is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately, and self-isolate for 14 days after they were last at the gym.

“NSW Health has revised the advice for several hundred people who attended an Avalon gym in light of further Covid-19 cases,” NSW Health said.

Further anyone who attended the gym between November 23 and December 7 is advised to get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Another gym that has been put on alert is Fitness First Mona Vale at the Pittwater Place Shopping Centre.

The advice for the facility has been revised with people who attended the venue on December 13 between 2pm – 4pm, Monday, 10.30am – 12.30pm and Wednesday, 8.30am – 10am being urged to get tested and self-isolate immediately.

Strawberry Hills Hotel in Sydney is pictured.
Sydney's Strawberry Hills Hotel has been added to the Covid watch list. Source: Google Maps (file pic)

The Northern Beaches remains under lockdown to stop the spread of infection.

The lockdown lasts until Wednesday in an effort, Ms Berejiklian said, to give Sydney a chance for a semi-normal Christmas.

"We're hoping that will give us sufficient time to get on top of the virus, so that we can then ease up for Christmas and the New Year," she said.

People are permitted to leave their homes for these basic reasons: to seek medical care, exercise, grocery shop, work or for compassionate care reasons.

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