Two new COVID cases as Bondi testing ‘nowhere near’ needed levels - Sydney Morning Herald

Eastern suburbs residents have been warned coronavirus testing rates are “nowhere near” what they should be in an outbreak, as other states start to place restrictions on travel.

There were two new local cases reported on Saturday, both connected to Bondi Junction Westfield: a local woman in her 40s who frequented the shopping centre and a man in his 30s from Sydney CBD who visited the shopping centre at a designated exposure time.

The Bondi Beach COVID-19 testing clinic was full as of 9.30am on Saturday.Credit:Edwina Pickles

The fresh infections prompted NSW Health to ask anyone who was at the shopping centre or its carpark last weekend between 11am and 12pm on Saturday or 1pm and 2pm or 4pm to 4.30pm on Sunday to present for testing.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Friday’s testing figure of 26,631 was “nowhere near what we would like to see”, encouraging anyone who was at a listed exposure site on the same day as a case to consider getting a test.

“On the northern beaches, we were getting up to 70,000 a day, so we know people are capable,” Mr Hazzard said.

To boost testing rates, NSW Health said anyone who attended Bondi Junction Westfield during these times and does not have symptoms does not need to isolate after their test.

“We ask that you minimise your exposure to other people until you get a negative test,” the ministry’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.

“That means wear a mask if you’re out, work from home if you can, don’t go to gatherings, don’t go to places where there are crowds such as a ski field.”

Isolation requirements remain in place for other people presenting for testing, and people who attended stores listed as specific exposure sites within the Westfield.

Masks are mandatory on public transport and strongly recommended in public indoor settings until this Thursday, under new restrictions announced on Friday.

There are now six cases associated with the eastern suburbs cluster: the initial case, a driver in his 60s who had contact with international air crew, his wife, a woman in her 70s who dined at a Vaucluse cafe with the driver, a man in his 50s who CCTV footage showed walked past the driver at Bondi Junction Westfield Myer and the two other Westfield cases announced on Saturday.

The group have been infected with the Delta variant of COVID-19, known to have a higher secondary attack rate than previous variants, meaning there is a higher risk contacts become cases.

Police are investigating whether the driver, employed as a private contractor to transport international air crew to police managed quarantine, had a COVID-19 test on every shift as was a condition of his employment under the Public Health Order.

There have also been reports the driver was not vaccinated. Asked if NSW could introduce mandatory vaccination for quarantine workers, Mr Hazzard said it “effectively” could but it had “generally” been the position that the state would follow national cabinet guidance on the issue.

“We try to make sure that everybody is vaccinated,” he added.

National cabinet will meet on Monday, when the impact of recent advice to give people in their 50s the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on the national rollout will be discussed.

“I don’t think there’s any clarity yet as to what is going to occur on that front,” Mr Hazzard said. “But clearly, as the Premier has said and I’ve said many times, we would like as much vaccine as possible to come to NSW and, indeed, the whole of Australia.”

An additional case unrelated to the cluster, a Baulkham Hills man in his 40s, was also detected this week.

The local cases resulted in new exposure alerts for train services from Central to Bondi Junction, Newtown and Campbelltown, as well as a cafe at Fairy Meadow and two plant nurseries in the Hills District.

Western Australia announced new restrictions on NSW arrivals in light of the cluster, requiring a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of landing at Perth Airport.

Earlier this week, Queensland shut its border to residents of Waverley Council. Victoria has designated Waverley, Woollahra and the City of Sydney councils as “orange zones”, meaning residents arriving in Victoria must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival.

with Marta Pascual Juanola

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2021-06-19 07:24:52Z
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