News by James O’Doherty
Premium Content NSW Health has effectively placed 250,000 people on the Northern beaches under a three-day stay at home order after COVID cases tripled on Thursday. Twelve additional cases were detected after a testing blitz on last night, taking the outbreak to a total of 17 cases. The aircrew van driver from southern Sydney who tested positive earlier this week is not included in this cluster. The timing of the outbreak could not be worse - a week out from the busy Christmas period - has many Australians on edge over holiday bookings interstate. Northern Beaches local residents line up at Mona Vale hospital for a COVID-19 test as a cluster in the area grows. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
What we know about NSW s latest coronavirus cluster
ThuThursday 17
updated
FriFriday 18
Health authorities believe the latest outbreak started at the Avalon RSL.
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Sydney s Northern Beaches have become the focus of the nation s coronavirus experts, with the region ground zero for New South Wales latest coronavirus outbreak.
The cluster now stands at 28; two of those are residents of south-east Sydney and the rest are from the Northern Beaches.
One other person who contracted the virus in Sydney has since travelled to Queensland.
The infections are the New South Wales s first cases of community transmission in more than a fortnight.
Borders NSW: Tasmania asks northern beaches visitors to self-isolate dailytelegraph.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytelegraph.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Newport Beach, one of Sydney s Northern Beaches.
Photo: 123RF
Authorities believe all the cases are linked and have urged all residents within the Northern Beaches local government area to stay at home.
Residents have been advised to work from home, keep to their household group and avoid all unnecessary gatherings. Do not visit friends or relatives in aged care facilities or hospitals unless [it is] essential, a NSW Health statement said. Avoid visiting high-risk venues including clubs, restaurants, places of worship and gyms.
Residents have also been urged to avoid unnecessary travel outside their area, while those in other locations have been told to avoid travel into the Northern Beaches.
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The coronavirus cluster in Sydney s Northern Beaches has jumped to 17 new infections, prompting health authorities to ask residents in the area to temporarily stay home.
NSW Health on Thursday evening confirmed 17 COVID-19 cases have now been identified in the area, including those diagnosed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Earlier in the day, authorities put the number of virus cases linked to the cluster at five. As a number of new cases are currently being interviewed, it is likely that a number of new venues will be identified and that people in the Northern Beaches may have attended these venues, it said.