Coronavirus NSW: northern beaches cluster grows to five as Sydney records six cases overall

A coronavirus cluster developing on Sydney’s northern beaches has grown to five – including a drummer who played gigs across the city – taking the total number of cases of community transmission in recent days to six.

Almost a fortnight without locally-acquired cases in NSW ended on Wednesday morning when a Sydney airport driver was confirmed to have the virus before two mystery cases popped up on the northern beaches.

Three more cases on the northern beaches were identified on Thursday, NSW Health said. They included a Palm Beach woman in her 50s who worked at the Pittwater Palms aged care facility at Avalon Beach, and her partner, as well as a drummer in his 60s who lives in Frenchs Forest.

NSW Covid hotspots: list of Sydney and regional case locations

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His band, called Nothing Too Serious, has played recent gigs across Sydney, including one at Avalon RSL last Friday which authorities believe resulted in a virus-spreading event. The band also played at the Penrith RSL Club on 13 December and the Kirribilli Club on 14 December.

The two cases reported on Wednesday evening – a divorced couple in their 60s and 70s – attended the Avalon RSL on 11 December at the same time as the band member. The woman in her 50s and the man in his 60s reported on Thursday morning attended the Avalon bowling club at the same time as the divorced woman.

Multiple venues up and down the northern beaches have now been identified as places recently visited by infected cases.

Hundreds of people started queuing up at Mona Vale hospital early on Thursday to get tested for the virus and multiple pop-up testing centres have been established.

The premier, Gladys Berejiklian, on Thursday flagged some northern beaches nursing homes could be locked down until the outbreak was contained.

“We want to get on top of this and don’t want this concerning us in the last few days before Christmas,” the Liberal leader told reporters. “There are a number of aged care facilities which are very vulnerable in the northern beaches, so (NSW Health) will also be issuing a directive to say (to) certain aged care facilities on the northern beaches, we’re recommending no visitors until we identify the source of the infection and feel more confident that we have it under control.”

The latest outbreak has also prompted concerns about whether the recently-opened Queensland and Western Australian borders will again be shut to people from NSW over Christmas.

The WA premier, Mark McGowan, didn’t rule out reimposing restrictions if further infections were detected in NSW stating “if the advice comes back that we need to put up a hard border then we will”.

The acting Queensland premier, Steven Miles, said the government was not considering fresh border restrictions at this stage but the next 48 hours would be crucial. He urged any Queenslanders intending to travel to impacted areas of Sydney to “consider waiting” as restrictions could be reimposed.

NSW’s health minister, Brad Hazzard, implored other states to avoid “pre-emptive” action. “My blood pressure hasn’t gone up, my pulse hasn’t gone up, we’re just doing what we do in NSW – handling the cases,” he told reporters.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said he also hoped borders would remain open at the moment. “Australia is open again and Australians like that,” he told reporters. “NSW is the gold standard, I don’t spend too much time worrying about NSW.”

Two new cases of coronavirus on Sydney’s northern beaches reported after driver tests positive

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NSW Health is urgently undertaking genomic sequencing and contact tracing to stem the damage and pinpoint the source of the northern beaches infections.

The first cases there were identified just hours after a 45-year-old driver transporting international air crew members to and from Sydney Airport was confirmed as Covid-positive.

The southwest Sydney man worked only with aircrew members and was not involved in regular taxi services for the public. He also wore a mask while working.

Hazzard has said a stronger quarantine regime for international aircrew members may be required to eliminate future risk – possibly by placing aircrew in full hotel quarantine until their flight back out of Australia which usually occurs within 72 hours.

— with Australian Associated Press