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Crossroads Hotel: thousands told to isolate for two weeks as Sydney coronavirus cluster grows Crossroads Hotel: thousands told to isolate for two weeks as Sydney coronavirus cluster grows
(about 13 hours later)
Nine cases have been added to the cluster in Casula and the contact dates have been widened to 3 to 10 JulyNine cases have been added to the cluster in Casula and the contact dates have been widened to 3 to 10 July
Thousands of pub-goers have been asked to self-isolate for two weeks after a hotel staff member and three other people became the latest cases in an emerging coronavirus cluster. A pub worker is among nine people now linked to a coronavirus cluster in Sydney, where thousands of people are being ordered to self-isolate.
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 venue, were on Sunday confirmed as new cases linked to Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel cluster. 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.
As a result, authorities vastly expanded the requirement on patrons of the Casula pub to self-isolate: originally it was just the 600-odd people who visited on July 3 but as of Sunday it was everyone who entered from 3 July to its closure on 10 July. All patrons of the Casula pub who entered between 3 and 10 July must now self-isolate.
The original case was still not known, NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said. The New South Wales chief health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said the original case was unknown. “We do not think the staff member was the source,” she told reporters on Sunday.
“We do not think the staff member was the source,” Dr Chant told reporters on Sunday. Five cases were previously linked to the pub – two people who visited on 3 July and three close contacts of one of those patrons.
“He worked for a number of days, he did work on the 3rd [and] on subsequent days.” 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.
Five cases have been previously linked to the pub – two patrons who visited on July 3 and three close contacts of one of those patrons. On Sunday night Casula’s Planet Fitness gym confirmed on its Facebook page that a member had returned a positive test for coronavirus.
None of those cases was linked to Victoria’s outbreak. “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.
About 1,200 people had been tested at the pop-up clinic in the pub carpark since Friday. On Sunday the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, announced that NSW will begin charging international arrivals for their mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.
Chant said all Crossroads patrons and staff should get tested as a precaution and self-isolate for 14 days since their last visit. From Saturday, for all arrivals on tickets bought from midnight Monday, the first adult in each party will be charged $3,000.
“Even if you get a negative test, that does not mean you are out of the woods,” she said. “A negative result does not mean you can breach self-isolation.” Subsequent adults will be billed $1,000 and children $500, but those under three will be free. Some people will be exempt.
The premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said the state was on high alert for community transmission. Berejiklian said the state was on high alert for community transmission.
“I get extremely concerned and upset when we see people flouting the rules that are in place because that will take us down the path of Victoria,” she said. “I get extremely concerned and upset when we see people flouting the rules that are in place because that will take us down the path of Victoria,” she said. “If you wake up with a scratchy throat, don’t go to work. Get tested and stay home.”
“If you wake up with a scratchy throat, don’t go to work. Get tested and stay home.”
The pub outbreak highlighted the importance of businesses recording contact details for every sit-down customer and the public taking the measures seriously, Chant said.The pub outbreak highlighted the importance of businesses recording contact details for every sit-down customer and the public taking the measures seriously, Chant said.
“When you do go into cafes, restaurants and other facilities, there is a reason we ask you for those details,” the state’s top doctor said. “When you do go into cafes, restaurants and other facilities, there is a reason we ask you for those details,” the state’s top doctor said. “Please use correct numbers [and] write legibly because this will be in your best interest.”
“Please use correct numbers [and] write legibly because this will be in your best interest.” On Sunday evening the Queensland deputy premier and minister for health, Steven Miles, urged Queenslanders who had attended the pub to also self-isolate and get tested.
On Sunday evening, the Queensland deputy premier and minister for health, Steven Miles, urged Queenslanders who had attended the pub to also self-isolate and get tested.
“Any Queenslanders who have been to the Crossroads Hotel from July 3 to July 10 inclusive should get Covid-19 tested as soon as possible and then immediately self-isolate,” Miles said.“Any Queenslanders who have been to the Crossroads Hotel from July 3 to July 10 inclusive should get Covid-19 tested as soon as possible and then immediately self-isolate,” Miles said.
“The hotel is a busy stopover for many travellers, so it is very likely that there are a number of Queenslanders who have been there during this period.”“The hotel is a busy stopover for many travellers, so it is very likely that there are a number of Queenslanders who have been there during this period.”