A third NSW pub, the Picton Hotel, has been closed following a visitor testing positive to COVID-19.
One of the 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases from Casula’s Crossroads Hotel travelled to Picton Hotel to play the poker machines over three days.
“Another case linked to the outbreak attended Picton Hotel during their infectious period, attending on 4, 9, and 10 July in the gaming room. The hotel is closed for cleaning,” NSW Health said.
Planet Fitness gym in Casula has also closed after a worker tested positive to COVID-19. The gym is across the road from the Crossroads Hotel.
The cases at the Crossroads Hotel include:
- A south-western Sydney teenager who worked at the hotel on several days including July 3
- A south-western Sydney woman in her 40s who had dinner at the hotel on July 3
- A south-western Sydney man in his 40s who had dinner at the hotel on July 3
- A Victorian man in his 20s who had dinner at the hotel on July 3
- A Sydney man in his 20s who had dinner at the hotel on July 3
One of the cases has since been linked to three positive cases among members of his household in the Blue Mountains.
Also, the Australian defence force has put 12 people in isolation after they visited the Crossroads Hotel.
The members went to the NSW pub the day before they were to deploy on tasks related to Operation COVID-19 Assist.
Federal Labor MP Anne Stanley says she dined at the hotel on Saturday night.
In a post to Facebook, the member for Werriwa said she has been tested for COVID-19 and is entering self-isolation for 14 days. Her office has been temporarily closed as a precaution.
NSW Health has directed anyone who attended the hotel between July 3-10, 2020, to self isolate for 14 days.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said NSW Health is “getting very close” to identifying the source at the heart of the growing Sydney pub cluster.
Dr Kerry Chant told 2GB Radio that the “focus is now on controlling the outbreak”.
She also confirmed that there are links between the Sydney cluster and the second wave of outbreaks in Melbourne.
“We do have some linkages to Melbourne but we need some further diagnostic tests,” she said.
Queensland health minister, Steven Miles, said border police were now asking people to declare if they had been at Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel between July 3-10.
The Tathra Hotel on the NSW South Coast closed last week after it was discovered that a holidaying Victorian teenager with the virus ate lunch there on Sunday.
“NSW Health have been more than happy with the way the hotel has been dealing with the restrictions and have advised that we do not need to close,” the posts read.
“However, all the staff that were working on Sunday need to get tested and are not allowed back at the hotel until they have a negative test result.
“So the hotel is closed due to a staff shortage rather than any health orders.”
Infected Victorians visit NSW venues
Two people from Victoria infected with COVID-19 have visited several venues in NSW.
Authorities warn that anyone who was at those locations should now watch out for symptoms.
They had:
• Lunch at Cook @ Kurnell on July 5
• Dinner at Highfield, Caringbah on July 5
• Dinner at the Merimbula RSL on July 6
• Breakfast at the Waterfront Cafe Merimbula on July 7
• Attended Murray Downs Golf Club on July 4 and 5
Additionally, but it has not been confirmed whether the patron was Victorian, Sydney’s Star Casino has confirmed someone who visited the complex on July 4 has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement lodged to the ASX, the group said it had been informed by NSW health authorities that a patron who visited the casino on Saturday, July 4 returned a positive reading for the infectious disease.
The Star noted the patron had been on the premise from around 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
The Star will also be fined $5000 for breaching COVID-19 public health orders.
Liquor & Gaming NSW said it would fine the Sydney casino after groups of patrons were seen standing and mingling in groups while drinking on Saturday.
Other venues recording positive cases are Narellan Town Centre shopping centre; Zone Bowling at Villawood; and Canterbury Leagues Club.
Two pubs close in South Australia
South Australia also had a scare over the weekend.
Two pubs in Bordertown were locked down on Friday night with dozens of patrons and staff inside over a potential contamination.
Face-mask-wearing police announced to the occupants of the Bordertown Hotel and Woolshed Inn that they had been exposed to a diner who’d been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
A test was rushed through for the exposed diner and he was given the all clear.
Both pubs have reopened for business.
