Health alerts have been issued across the Northern Beaches and in Peakhurst after three Sydneysiders tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, marking the first locally acquired cases in almost two weeks.
A 45-year-old man who worked as a van driver shuttling airport crew to and from their hotels was the first case detected on Wednesday morning. Health authorities stressed he was not a public taxi driver.
The man developed symptoms on Saturday but didn’t get tested until Tuesday, mean there is a chance he was still infectious in the days prior.
He attended the Forest Rangers FC Little Rangers session at Gannons Park in Peakhurst last Friday between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM, and anyone else who was present at the match is being urged to get tested themselves.
That being said, this response is just a precaution and NSW Health is still considering people who were at the game to be only casual contacts.
NSW PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – COVID-19 CASE
NSW Health was notified this morning of a new case of COVID-19 in a person who works as the driver of vans that take international and domestic air crew from the airport to their hotels. Read more: https://t.co/84ys4U2YCt pic.twitter.com/tlOC3CSBk8
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 16, 2020
On the Northern Beaches, two more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon.
What’s worrying is that the source of the cases is still under investigation and the two people – a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s – have not been linked to the other case.
They visited a handful of cafes and other venues on the Northern Beaches while still infectious.
Anyone who was at the following locations at these times is being urged to isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they test positive or negative for COVID-19:
- Palm Beach female change rooms – Sunday, 13 December 9-9:15 AM
- Coast Palm Beach Café, Palm Beach – Sunday, 13 December 10-11 AM
- Avalon Bowlo, Avalon Beach – Sunday, 13 December, 3-5 PM
- Sneaky Grind Café, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December, 10.30-11am
On top of that, anyone who was at the following locations at specific times is also being urged to get tested, and isolate until they return a negative result:
- Woolworths Avalon Beach – Sunday, 13 December, 12-5 PM
- Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December, 9-9.15 AM
We’ve come so far as a city, a state and a country. A few blips on the radar is hopefully not the end of the world, but let’s do our best to stay socially distanced and get tested when necessary.
