MP in quarantine as coronavirus pub cluster in Sydney grows
A pub worker is among nine people now linked to a coronavirus cluster in Sydney where thousands of people are likely to be required to self-isolate for two weeks.
The 18-year-old staffer and a close contact in her 50s, plus a woman in her 40s and a Victorian man in his 20s, who both dined at the The Crossroads Hotel, are the latest to test positive for COVID-19.
All patrons of the Casula pub, who entered from July 3 to 10, must now self-isolate.
Among them is Labor MP Anne Stanley, who is Member for Werriwa where the pub is located.
“Last week I had dinner at the Crossroads Hotel at Casula. I have followed today’s medical advice from NSW Health and I have been tested and am now in 14 days self-isolation,” she explained on Twitter on Sunday night.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the original case was unknown.
Last week I had dinner at the Crossroads Hotel at Casula. I have followed today’s medical advice from NSW Health and I have been tested and am now in 14 days self-isolation.
If you also visited the Crossroads… https://t.co/gU0mw611eB— Anne Stanley MP (@AnneWerriwa) July 12, 2020
"We do not think the staff member was the source," she told reporters on Sunday.
Five cases were previously linked to the pub – two people who visited on July 3 and three close contacts of one of those patrons.
Dr Chant said all visitors and staff should be tested as a precaution and self-isolate for 14 days from their last visit.
"A negative result does not mean you can breach self-isolation," she warned.
Planet Fitness gym closed following cluster
Authorities are expecting the cluster to grow further, with two suspected cases linked to the outbreak now in self-isolation at an RAAF base in Wagga Wagga, Channel Nine’s Today show reported.
The network understands a group of defence personnel en route to assist operations at the Albury-Wodonga border closure had stopped at the pub and when realising they could have potentially been infected, they have stopped at the base.
As many as a dozen personnel are reportedly in isolation on the base.
“As a further precautionary measure, the remainder of the contingent which travelled to Wagga has been directed to self-isolate as Defence consults with New South Wales Public Health,” the Department of Defence said in a statement.
“There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the contingent and while the members are in isolation, the base has not been locked down.”
The pub outbreak highlighted the importance of businesses recording contact details for customers and the public taking the measures seriously, Dr Chant added.
On Sunday night Casula's Planet Fitness gym confirmed on its Facebook page that a member had returned a positive test for coronavirus.
"The member has not been at the club since Friday 10 July, and is in quarantine," the gym's letter to members said, adding that staff were in self-quarantine and it was following NSW Department of Health advice.
The gym has been closed and is being disinfected.
Hotel quarantine costs in NSW revealed
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday announced that NSW will begin charging international arrivals for their mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.
From Saturday, for all arrivals on tickets bought from midnight Monday, the first adult in each party will be charged $3000.
Subsequent adults will be billed $1000 and children $500, but those under three will be free. Some people will be exempt.
with AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
