As the day unfolded: Northern beaches COVID cluster grows to 28 in Sydney as new case confirmed in Cronulla; NSW remains on high alert

NSW Health has added to its list of venues that have been affected by the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.

Anyone that has visited the following venues are considered close and casual contacts:

• Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo - 11 December, 12-2pm.
  Anyone who spent one hour or longer at the restaurant at this time must get tested and isolate until December 25. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately if symptoms appear.
• Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, 97 Gerrale St, Cronulla - 16 December 11.30am-2.30pm
  Anyone who was at the café during this time for one hour or more must be tested immediately and isolate until 30 December. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and get tested immediately if they appear.
• Cronulla RSL Club, 38 Gerrale St, Cronulla - 16 December, 5pm to closing time.
  Anyone who was at the RSL at this time must get tested and isolate until further notice. Close contacts will need to isolate until 30 December.

Anyone who attended the following locations is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:

• Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre Lane Cove - 11 December, 3.30-5pm
• Rusti Fig Café Newport - 12 December, 9-10am
• Salon of Hair Turramurra - 15 December, 10am-3pm, and 16 December, 9.30am-3.30pm

People who have visited the following locations are casual contacts, and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Coles Newport - 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
• Hills Florist, Terrey Hills - 12 December, 8-8.45am – close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
• Restaurant Lovat, Newport - 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm
• Nourished Wholefood Café, Avalon - 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
• RAN Sailing Association Darling Point, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party - 13 December, 10am‑4pm
• Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach - 13 December, 6-8pm
• Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Eveleigh - 14 December, 8-11.30am
• Mentmore and Morley Café and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry - 14 December 10am-3pm
• Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza - 14 December, 11-11.10am
• Paris Seafood Café, 136 Cronulla - 15 December, 8.30-9pm
• Cronulla Mall - 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December 11am-12pm
• Blend @ Grantham Café, Riverstone - 16 December 11-11.45am
• Westfield Bondi Junction - 15 December, 1-2.30pm
• Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Terrey Hills - 16 December, 4-4.10pm

Confirmed cases travelled on the following transport services. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

• Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe - 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
• Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD
  • Route 273, 15 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
  • Route 271, 15 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
  • Route 273, 16 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
  • Route 271, 16 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm

NSW Health has issued a strong advisory for those living in Sydney’s northern beaches to wear a mask at all times, even when visiting indoor areas.

The advice is effective immediately and remains in place for 72 hours. It follows earlier advice for residents in the area to stay home as much as possible and avoid high-risk venues such as cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as gyms and places of worship.

NSW Health says masks should be worn in the following areas:

• Shopping centres and supermarkets
• Public transport
• Healthcare facilities
• Aged care facilities
• Workplaces

People are not expected to wear masks in their home or where there is a relevant medical condition.

It’s time to hand over to my colleague Nick Ralston who will guide you through the afternoon and evening.

To recap: what a disastrous morning.

Christmas is ruined for countless families after states and territories leapt to implement new travel restrictions on people coming from parts of NSW.

While most states are only explicitly restricting travellers who have been to Sydney’s northern beaches, in practice, many people are likely to cancel trips into or out of NSW. Why? Because everything is so uncertain again. It’s quite possible the cluster will expand to other parts of Sydney, which could then be declared hotspots retrospectively.

Here is the state of play from today's developments:

• Sydney's northern beaches residents should stay at home for three days as the cluster grew to 28 cases.
• Victoria will implement a permit system from midnight tonight for anyone arriving from NSW, including people who transit through Sydney airport. Anyone who has been to the northern beaches will be forced into 14 days of hotel quarantine.
• Victoria is warning its citizens to avoid travel to NSW because they might close the border.
• All other states and territories have implemented border restrictions for travellers from the hotspot. WA has gone a step further by forcing all NSW travellers into 14-day quarantine.
• Genome sequencing shows the outbreak originated from a US strain but authorities are still determining exactly where it came from and how it spread. From Tuesday all international air crew will be confined to one of two hotels instead of 25.
• NSW Health has added 30 locations - including an Aldi supermarket, Commonwealth Bank branch and a Chemist Warehouse outlet - to its list of COVID-impacted venues in the northern beaches.

To those whose Christmas plans now seem shot, take care and hang in there.

That’s all for tonight. Thanks for following our live coverage of the COVID-19 situation in NSW, and for your comments and tips.

We will be running a new coronavirus blog on Saturday, which you can read here.

As reported earlier today NSW Health authorities are poised to announce another spike in cases on Saturday morning, which may trigger new rules and restrictions.

This is Esther Han signing off. Good night.

The northern beaches cluster has potentially spread beyond metropolitan Sydney, judging by NSW Health’s latest list of venues affected by a positive case.

A confirmed case travelled on a ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe between 6.15pm and 6.35pm on December 16. Wagstaffe is part of the Central Coast.

“Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received,” NSW Health said.

The new case is linked to the northern beaches cluster.

The South Australian government has asked anyone who visited the following areas since December 11 to immediately quarantine for 14 days and get tested, and then undertake a test on day five and day 12:

• Northern Beaches Council
• Lavender Bay suburb
• Penrith suburbs

Anyone who has visited the following locations cannot enter SA. You must enter hotel quarantine if you have already arrived in SA:

• Avalon Bowling Club - Sunday 13 December 5pm-7pm and Tuesday 15 December 3pm-5pm
• Avalon Beach RSL Club - Friday 11 December 2020