Fears Sydney coronavirus cluster has spread to Queensland after 18 people visited Crossroads Hotel before crossing the border
Eighteen people in Queensland have been instructed to self isolate after they visited the Crossroads Hotel in south-west Sydney which is at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak.
Already at least 21 COVID-19 cases have been identified after visiting the venue, in Casula, between July 3 and July 10.
Any patrons who visited the hotel between those dates have been urged to get tested.
Since the cluster was announced, 18 people who are currently in Queensland have presented for testing.
They are all awaiting their results in quarantine.
Pictured: New South Wales health workers dressed in personal protective equipment prepare to administer COVID-19 tests to people in their cars at the Crossroads Hotel testing centre in Casula, western Sydney. Queensland has banned travellers from the local government areas of Campbelltown and Liverpool – which includes Casula – to stop the spread of COVID-19
Authorities believe that number will continue to rise in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced New South Wales local government areas of Liverpool and Campbelltown would be considered COVID-19 hotspots from midday.
Anybody from those areas, or who has travelled within the regions, will not be permitted to enter Queensland.
‘Travellers who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot within the past 14 days can’t quarantine in Queensland and will be turned away at our borders,’ she said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her state had declared suburbs within the two local government areas ‘COVID-19 hot spots’. Ms Palaszczuk pictured addressing the media on Monday
‘Queenslanders who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot within the past 14 days are required to hotel quarantine at their own expense.’
Borders remain closed to all Victorians, where the entire state has been identified as a potential hotspot as it grapples with a devastating second outbreak.
Ms Palaszczuk is facing mounting pressure from Queenslanders – particularly online – to reassess the state’s position on borders and consider barring anybody from New South Wales, too.
On Tuesday, there were zero new confirmed cases of the deadly respiratory virus in Queensland, and four active infections.
More to come.