Controls tighten as new cases hit NSW

EIGHTEEN new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in NSW, bringing the state’s total to 3379 since the pandemic began.

Holy Duck! restaurant in the inner Sydney suburb of Chippendale has been closed for deep cleaning after one of the locally acquired cases dined there between 7.15pm and 9.30pm on July 10.

Another locally acquired case visited Anytime Fitness in Merrylands, in the city’s west, between 9pm and 10.30pm on July 14.

NSW Health has advised anyone who attended those venues on the same dates to self-isolate for 14 days, and come forward for testing if they develop symptoms.

In total, three cases have no links to known clusters.

Of the 18 new cases, one is linked to the outbreak from Casula’s Crossroads Hotel, who also attended Planet Fitness Casula, and another is under investigation.

Four people attended the Thai Rock Restaurant in Stockland Mall Wetherill Park, and another was a close contact of a case who was there.

Two people are members of the same household as two reported cases from yesterday, and five were returned travellers.

There were 25,917 tests carried out in the 24-hour reporting period, 99 people are being treated in hospital and one is in intensive care.

It comes as authorities clamp down on gatherings with new restrictions on the number of people allowed in venues set to come into effect from Monday.

The state is still grappling with the cluster in Sydney’s southwest stemming from the Crossroads Hotel, which stands at at least 45 cases.

NSW Police were also forced to break up a chaotic house party in Sydney’s west overnight, with officers set to issue fines to 60 people. That was three times the number of people allowed inside a home in NSW, which is 20.

Police said 30 people refused orders to move on from the home in Schofields, and can expect fines of up to $2000. Capsicum spray was deployed when a brawl broke out inside the home involving 15 people, and officers entered the building.

Three males were taken to Blacktown Hospital, two for minor injuries sustained in the brawl and a third for the effects of alcohol.