NSW Covid update: Sydney case visited Bondi and eastern suburbs venues while potentially infectious
A man who lives in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and works as a driver for international flight crews has tested positive to Covid – and anyone who shared a cinema with him on Sunday has been ordered to isolate for 14 days.
The new case was reported by NSW Health on Wednesday afternoon, after the man in his 60s tested positive on a saliva test on Tuesday. The positive result was confirmed by a PCR test.
Health authorities in New South Wales were conducting “urgent investigations into the source of the infection,” a NSW Health statement said. Contact tracing and genomic sequencing was under way.
“Close contacts are being urgently contacted, and asked to get tested and isolate,” the statement said. “The man visited a number of venues while potentially infectious.”
It followed an announcement on Tuesday that NSW Health was investigating the apparent spread of the virus in hotel quarantine, after a person staying on the fourth floor of the Radisson Blu quarantine hotel tested positive to the exact same strain of the virus as two other people staying in an adjacent room.
Anyone who attended the 1.45pm screening of the Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, starring Salma Hayek and Ryan Reynolds, in Cinema 1 of Event Cinema at Bondi Junction on Sunday has been ordered to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.
Anyone who was at the cinema from 1.30pm to 4pm on Sunday has been ordered to get tested and isolate until told otherwise.
NSW Health has listed a string of other exposure sites in Sydney’s eastern suburbs dating back to Friday.
According to exposure sites listed by NSW Health, the man attended Belle Cafe in Vaucluse five times: from 9.15am to 9.50am on Friday; 10.20am to 10.45am then 1.20pm to 1.50pm on Saturday; 11.30am to 12pm on Sunday; and 9.50am to 10.25am on Tuesday.
He also attended three stores in Bondi Junction, as well as the cinema. They are Sourdough Bakery on Friday 11 June from 12.40pm to 1.10pm; David Jones on Saturday 12 June from 11am to 11.40am; and Myer on Saturday 12 June from 11.40am to 12.15pm.
Also listed as exposure sites are Japanese restaurant Washoku Vaucluse in Vaucluse on Saturday 12 June from 12pm to 1.30pm; and Rocco’s Cafe in Vaucluse from 10.55am to 11.30am on Monday 14 June; and the cafe in the Macquarie Park cemetery from 1pm to 1.20pm on Tuesday.
The man in his 60s visited a Coles and a fruit and vegetable shop in Zetland on Monday as well as a car wash cafe in Redfern the same day.
Anyone who was at an exposure site is instructed to immediately call NSW Health on 1800 943 553, get tested and self-isolate until they receive further information.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Victoria have announced an easing of restrictions from midnight on Thursday, after two new cases were reported at a Southbank apartment building, and a nurse working in a Covid ward tested positive.