Masks recommended at supermarkets and churches as NSW records 12 new cases - Sydney Morning Herald

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant have strongly recommended people wear face masks in virus hotspots and all public enclosed spaces, particularly shopping centres and places of worship.

Ms Berejiklian said masks were not compulsory “but it is a strong recommendation from Health, given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transmission in NSW" that they should be worn in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not guaranteed.

People wearing masks in the queue at the Rushcutters Bay testing clinic earlier this week.Credit:Brook Mitchell

“The next few weeks will make or break us,” Ms Berejiklian said, adding that wearing a mask was “the fourth line of defence” and urging the public to prioritise staying at home when sick, social distancing, and hand hygiene.

Ms Berejiklian recommended people in vulnerable groups should consider wearing a mask at all times.

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NSW recorded 12 additional cases overnight. Three of the new cases attended the Apollo restaurant, two cases attended the Mounties Club, and five cases are contacts of known cases, Dr Chant said.

One of the new cases is a childcare worker who acquired the infection locally from an unknown contact. The childcare worker attended Advanced Early Learning at Merrylands, in Sydney's south-west, while infected on July 27, 28 and 29.

Another staff member at the centre has since tested positive for COVID-19. The centre is closed for cleaning and contact tracing is underway.

One case reported in yesterday’s tally attended the Toronto Courthouse in the Newcastle area on 27 July. All close contacts have been identified.

As a precaution anyone who attended the courthouse between 7am and 2pm should watch for symptoms.

Another case attended the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL on 27 July between 6.30pm and 8pm. Anyone who attended the RSL during this period should immediately self-isolate if they develop symptoms and get tested.

NSW Health has also issued an alert concerning one case who attended Neeta Shopping Centre in Fairfield a number of times between 23 July and 30 July, including the Soul Pattinson Chemist, Woolworths and Fresco Juice Bar. While the risk to others is thought low, anyone who visited the shopping centre on these days should to monitor for symptoms and if symptoms develop, seek testing and isolate themselves pending the test results.

In south-west Sydney, there are now 98 cases associated with Thai Rock Wetherill Park, 58 cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster, 33 cases associated with the funeral events in Bankstown (including nine associated with Mounties Club).

In the city's east, there are now 24 cases associated with the Potts Point cluster, including 18 linked to the Apollo restaurant and six linked to Thai Rock. Two cases attended both restaurants.

Dr Chant thanked the more than 22,000 people who came forward for testing in the last 24-hour reporting period, particularly those in the Greater Western Sydney and Potts Point areas.

“We need to mop up any community transmission” linked to the clusters in those areas, Dr Chant said.

While NSW was “holding the line”, the Premier said the state was at a critical phase in the fight against coronavirus and the health advice would continue to evolve.

Asked why mask-wearing was not mandatory, Ms Berejiklian said she had faith in people following recommendations, and there were always exceptional circumstances.

In some high risk venues it was very difficult to ask people to wear masks while having a meal, she said.

Victoria is expected to report more than 650 new COVID-19 cases today as the state braces for tougher stage four lockdown restrictions within days.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to give a COVID-19 update after 1pm today.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott has slammed the behaviour of people who attended who indoor parties and a beach gathering in NSW overnight.

Nine people have been fined for attending large indoor gatherings in Jindabyne and Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Police issued seven men aged between 24 and 31 and a 29-year-old woman with infringement notices after being called to an East Jindabyne resort to find a party of 27 people at 11pm on Saturday.

The remaining people were moved on and their details were taken by police.

In a separate incident police discovered more than 20 people inside a unit on Anzac Parade, Maroubra, following reports of a loud gathering just before 1am.

Officers issued the 29-year-old man living at the unit with a fine.

Emergency services were also called to Whiting Beach in Mosman at about 9pm after two 16-year-old girls were found unconscious following a gathering of up to 40 young people drinking alcohol.

The girls were taken to Royal North Hospital to be treated for the effects of alcohol, and police are investigating to see whether any COVID-19 restrictions were breached.

"It beggars belief that anybody would turn on television news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW," Mr Elliott said on Sunday morning, describing the parties as "stupid, selfish behaviour".

"I am quite comfortable for the police to dish out as many as they think is worthwhile to make sure people correct their behaviour because if we do have to go into further lockdown, these are the people that we're going to be blaming."

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2020-08-02 02:34:00Z
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