: JB Hi-fi, a chicken shop and even more bus routes are added to list of Covid exposure sites Sydney

A JB Hi-Fi, a popular chicken shop and 16 new public transport routes are the latest additions to Sydney’s coronavirus exposure list.

Karl’s Charcoal Chicken in Marrickville has been listed as a high-risk site, while a number of train lines between Town Hall and the city’s south were added as casual contacts.

Anyone who visited Karl’s at G013/20 Smidmore Street on Wednesday 23 June between 12.10pm and 12.30pm must immediately be tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi in the Bondi Junction Westfield were also added to the exposure list, with their contact coming on Friday June 25, the lead-up to the areas lockdown.

The public health alerts issued late on Monday come after the state recorded 18 new locally acquired infections, bringing the total number of cases linked to the ever-growing Bondi cluster to 130.  

JB Hi-Fi in Bondi Junction Westfield was also added to the exposure list, with anyone who visited the store on Friday, June 25 told to get tested immediately and isolate.

The T3 train line as well as five T4 trains were exposed to the virus on Wednesday June 23 and Thursday June 24. Pictured: A Sydney train

Pictured: Commuters are seen boarding a bus in Sydney as multiple train and bus routes were flagged as Covid exposure sites.

Sydney, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and the Central Coast are just two days into a 14-day lockdown. 

Residents and anyone who has worked in Sydney in the last two weeks are only allowed to leave home to shop for food or other essential goods and services, give medical care or compassionate needs, exercise outdoors with a maximum of ten people, or essential work or education.

Masks must be worn at all indoor public venues, while hospitality and pubs are only permitted to stay open to serve takeaway.

Households will not be allowed to have any visitors, although there are exceptions for intimate partners that don’t live with each other who are permitted to visit each other’s homes.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said workers and students can only leave the house if they are unable to get educated or work from home. 

Many were seen walking out in Sydney (pictured at Bondi Beach on Sunday) as the city endured the start of its two week lockdown

Fifteen of the new cases are linked to the Bondi cluster while three were acquired overseas (pictured, people in Sydney’s locked down CBD on Monday)

Ms Berejiklian said about six of the state’s new cases were in isolation for their entire infectious period, while more were isolated for part of the same period.

‘Unfortunately some were active in the community. As Dr Kerry Chant has told us already, the cases we are seeing today are a reflection of what may have occurred in the previous week and obviously there is a lag time,’ she told reporters on Monday.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said officials will need to wait ‘at least another five days’ to reap the benefits of lockdown.

‘It is important the community understands that the numbers are not expected to decline for another five days,’ she said.

With the nation on the brink of an out-of-control nationwide outbreak, the national cabinet met on Monday to discuss the unfolding situation with lockdowns and tighter restrictions emerging around the nation. 

Scott Morrison later announced vaccination of aged care workers and everyone in the hotel quarantine system is to be made mandatory under a move endorsed by the cabinet.  

This includes anyone who worked, either directly or indirectly, in hotel quarantine – including drivers.

In a change of policy to help the lagging Covid rollout, the Prime Minister also confirmed anyone under 60 can now get the AstraZeneca jab if they want to, despite earlier advice that younger people should get another jab.  

The decisions come as Australia’s growing coronavirus outbreaks have reignited calls for vaccinations to be increased amid concern about the highly contagious Indian Delta strain sweeping across Sydney. 

Sydney’s soaring outbreak began when an unvaccinated limo driver transporting flight crew caught the virus and started unknowingly spreading it around Bondi. 

The prime minister said the mandatory vaccines would apply to anyone who worked, either directly or indirectly, in hotel quarantine – including drivers. He is pictured visiting a vaccine manufacturing facility in February

The national cabinet decision comes as outbreaks have reignited calls for vaccinations to be increased Pictured: Staff are seen leaving Arcare Aged Care facility in Melbourne last month

Asked whether those under 40 could receive the AstraZeneca jab, as the nation waits for shipments of Pfizer, Mr Morrison said Australians could do so after seeking medical advice.

‘If they are willing to go and speak to their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so. So the answer is yes, they can go and do that,’ he said.

Mr Morrison said national cabinet has agreed on an indemnity scheme for GPs to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australians under the age of 60 who are willing to accept the extremely rare blood clot risk.  

Indemnity schemes offer insurance cover to professionals and business owners in the event of an adverse incident caused by the practitioner’s misjudgement.

‘If you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP, and we’ve already made announcements to support those additional consultations with the GPs so you can have that conversation,’ he said.

‘And secondly, we are also providing the indemnity scheme for those general practitioners, so they can actively engage with you, and you can make the best decision for your health.’

In May, the federal government announced the Pfizer vaccine was the recommended shot for people under 50 after AstraZeneca was linked to rare blood-clotting condition thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which has caused two deaths in Australia.