Sydney RSL, BWS and Bunnings added to Covid alert list as fears grow
Health authorities have added several new locations to the Covid alert list after infected people visited venues across Sydney including an RSL, a BWS outlet and a Bunnings.
NSW Health issued a warning late Wednesday, asking anyone at the Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL on Monday between 6pm and 11.30pm to get tested and isolate immediately.
Eighteen new locally acquired cases were reported in NSW on Wednesday, nine of which were linked to the Avalon cluster on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Five were from an emerging cluster in Croydon, in Sydney’s inner west, which is of particular concern given it has no known link to existing clusters in the state.
A total of six cases have been linked to the suburb in recent days after an extended family in three households gathered for several events over a number of days.
A host of other venues across Sydney have been revealed as sites where positive cases visited, including Priceline Pharmacy in Rhodes on Christmas Eve between 9am and 12pm.
People in the store during that period are considered casual contacts who should get tested and isolate immediately.
The same applies to anyone who was in the BWS in Bass Hill on December 24 between 1:10pm and 1:30pm.
Anyone at Martin Reserve in Croydon Park on December 27 between 12pm and 12.40pm, and Bunnings Lidcombe on December 24 between 4pm and 4.20pm should monitor for symptoms and get tested if any arise.
The 'silent' threat which will still loom despite the Covid vaccine
'Act fast': Drastic call as coronavirus cases continue to mount in Sydney
The same guidelines apply to those who visited Costco in Lidcombe on December 24 between 10am and 10.20am and 4.20pm and 4.45pm.
Those that attended BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing) in Auburn between 10:15am and 10:45am on December 23 should also monitor for symptoms and get tested if they arise.
Fireworks NOT cancelled
The 18 new cases were announced alongside changes to restrictions for New Year’s Eve festivities in Sydney, however the fireworks are still going ahead.
For Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong areas, people are only allowed to have household gatherings of five people.
Outdoor gatherings, such are picnics, are now restricted to 30 people in those areas.
"Our preferred advice is that people just stay home for New Year's Eve,” Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
Residents in the Northern Beaches in both the northern and southern zones are only allowed to have five people over on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Those people must also be from those regions.
Only 10 people from those regions can gather outdoors for exercise and recreation, provided people stay in their region.
Though the midnight fireworks on Sydney Harbour are going ahead, the city has largely banned crowds along the foreshore.
There will be no fireworks display at 9pm on New Year’s Eve, only at midnight.
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.
