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Virus warning for thousands of visitors at Bathurst 1000

Anyone who was at the Bathurst 1000 motor race on the weekend is being urged to get tested if they show symptoms of Covid after virus traces were found in local sewage.

The wastewater sample from the weekend could indicate an infection in someone who attended or worked at the race, a visitor to Bathurst, or a local resident, NSW Health said in a statement on Wednesday night.

Local residents or weekend visitors showing even mild symptoms should immediately isolate and get tested and remain in isolation until a negative result is received.

A supplied image obtained Sunday, October 18 , 2020 of race start during the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Bathurst 1000, Australia.  (AAP Image/Supplied by Edge Photographics, Mark Horsburgh) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A coronavirus alert has been issued for all attendees of the Bathurst 1000. Source: AAP

While 50,000 tickets are normally on sale for the event, only 4000 tickets per day were sold due to coronavirus restrictions.

"NSW Health is urgently undertaking investigations, which include reviewing lists of all those known to have had the virus who attended or worked at the race."

Alert comes as NSW restrictions eased

The latest warning came as restrictions were further eased in NSW, with congregations up to 300 being allowed at places of worship from Friday after religious leaders complained about "inconsistent" restrictions.

Staffing at gyms will also be relaxed, with a Covid safety marshal only required when more than 20 people are working out.

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"This is a great announcement for the body and the soul, so whatever you worship, there's something for you in this one," Treasurer Dominic Perrottet told reporters on Wednesday.

Hillsong pastor Brian Houston had earlier on Wednesday said churches were being left behind as other Covid restrictions eased, with 300 guests being allowed at weddings from December.

Mr Houston's Sydney mega-church has a 4000-person capacity but services were restricted to just 100 people.

"(At) the grand final this week, 40,000 to 45,000 people (will be) hugging, shouting, spitting, high-fiving - it's just the inconsistency of it," Mr Houston told Sydney radio 2GB.

People moving around the Sydney CBD district on a Wednesday morning during the COVID-19 pandemic on October 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Australians have been requested to wear facemarks during travel and where some do wear them, most do not. Signage to remind everyone of the pandemic exists throughout the transport system.
Sydney recorded two cases of locally-transmitted coronavirus on Friday, as restrictions were eased. Source: Getty/File

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was sorry if some religious leaders felt they were being ignored but he only heard of their concerns through the media.

Exemptions had been granted for a number of large churches, he said.

Two new cases of Covid in NSW

It comes as NSW has recorded two new cases of locally transmitted Covid - both linked to known clusters - while testing rates doubled overnight.

Nearly 15,000 people heeded NSW Health's plea for more people to get tested, compared with just 7401 in the previous 24 hours.

Eight cases were diagnosed in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

A public health alert has also been issued for Bavarian Macarthur in Macarthur Square at Campbelltown, with a confirmed case having visited on the evening of October 10.

Anyone who dined at the restaurant for an hour or more must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days and stay isolated for the entire period, even if their test was negative.

Anyone who was there for less than an hour must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop any symptoms and after testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative result is received.

NSW Health is treating 72 cases, with one patient in intensive care.

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