Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster grows, states impose border restrictions

Update (10.13pm AEDT Friday 18 December): NSW has recorded 10 new cases overnight and one positive case has travelled to Queensland)

Those living in Sydney's Northern Beaches have been asked to stay at home as much as possible after a cluster of COVID-19 grew to 17 confirmed cases yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile Queensland has mandated some new conditions ordering visitors from Sydney's hotspot into immediate hotel quarantine from Saturday, while Tasmania has banned entry to anyone who has visited the northern beaches since 11 December.

Western Australia has ordered that, from midnight last night, anyone entering the state from anywhere in NSW will be required to self-quarantine. The state has changed its classification of NSW from a "very low risk" state to a "low risk" state under WA's controlled interstate border.

To assist with contact tracing and reducing the spread of the virus, people in the Northern Beaches have been asked to stay home as much as possible over the next three days.

This includes working from home where possible, not visiting aged care facilities or hospitals unless essential, avoiding unnecessary gatherings and high-risk venues such as clubs, restaurants, places or worships and gyms, and avoiding unnecessary travel outside of the Northern Beaches area.

States and Territories impose border restrictions

Queensland

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and arrived in Queensland on a flight from Sydney from midnight on 17 December, must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am on 19 December must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches, and get tested.

Western Australia

From midnight tonight, anyone arriving from New South Wales will now be required to self-quarantine in a suitable premise for 14 days. These arrivals will also be required to be tested for COVID-19 on day 11.

Anyone who has arrived from NSW from 11 December or was in NSW from that date and subsequently arrived in WA before 12.01am this morning (18 December) will be required to follow updated arrangements, which include:

• the requirement to self-quarantine in a suitable premise as soon as possible
• to present for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible
• return to self-quarantine until a negative test result is confirmed
• undertake a further test on day 11 after arrival in WA. 

Victoria

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and is already in Victoria should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and arrived in Victoria after midnight last night (17 December), must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and is already in Victoria should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Tasmania

Tasmania has put a ban on anyone who has been in the northern beaches area on or since 11 December from entering the state.

Anyone already in Tasmania who has been in the northern beaches area must immediately self-isolate and have a COVID-19 test.

South Australia

South Australia has expanded its hotspot zones to include the northern beaches of Sydney, which now requires anyone in the state who visited the area from the dates identified by NSW authorities to self-quarantine immediately for 14 days from the last day they were present on the site.

Anyone who visited these locations must get a COVID-19 test immediately and again on day 12 of the self-quarantine. Even if you return a negative test result, you must remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.

People who live with you and/or travelled with you also need to self-quarantine immediately until they receive further advice from SA Health.

NorthernTerritory

The Northern Territory has advised anyone intending to travel there from an identified hotspot to cancel their plans. The same applies to Territorians intending to travel to an active hotspot.

The Territory says anyone from the northern beaches area entering the NT must quarantine for 14 days.

Public health alerts issued

People who have visited the following Northern Beaches locations should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12-12.30pm
• Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12.45-1.30pm
• Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
• Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am
• Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5-5.30pm
• Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5.205.25pm
• Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.15pm
• Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.20pm
• Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Artarmon, 15 December, 2-2:30pm
• HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, 15 December 4.30-4.45pm
• Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, 15 December, 4.45-4.55pm
• North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 6-6.05pm
• Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 16 December 77:30am
• Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 16 December, 8am-9am
• Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, 16 December, 2pm-2:05pm
• Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 16 December 3.30-3.50pm

A confirmed case also travelled between the following stations on 14 December at the following times. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

• Roseville to Redfern, 6.50-7.40am
• Redfern to Milsons Point, 11.20am-11.45am
• Milsons Point to Roseville, 3.15-3.40pm

Updated at 9.23am AEDT on 18 December 2020.