Covid 19 coronavirus: mystery in the center of the NSW group as authorities search for patient zero

Health authorities are still searching for patient zero in the NSW virus cluster, prompting states to enforce new quarantine requirements as cases are expected to spike over the weekend.

Genomic sequencing points to viral spread at an event at Avalon RSL on December 11. Eight attendees tested positive for the virus later. Two people from that group visited the Avalon Bowling Club two days later and are part of a group of 16 who also tested positive for Covid-19.

The infectious people then spread across the city, visiting cafes, restaurants, and public baths in Cronulla, Woolloomooloo, Turramurra, Darling Point, Eveleigh, Rosebery, Bondi Junction, and Riverstone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned yesterday that if the state fails to monitor cases in the coming days, it could mean more restrictions.

“If we get through this in the next two or three days, we can all have a much better Christmas, but if we don’t get over it in the next few days, it could mean more restrictions on the track.”

NSW has urged all residents to monitor for symptoms and come forward for testing, as a new list of affected locations has been released in NSW and Queensland.

North beach residents have been asked to stay home as much as possible over the weekend, as the list of potential sites stretches from Sydney’s North Beaches to Bondi Junction, Cronulla and Queensland.

New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced that 14 of the 17 pubs on the northern beaches had voluntarily closed over the weekend on Friday. He said that most churches and places of worship had also made the decision to close their doors.

Kerry Chant, NSW health director, said “my anxiety is that we haven’t found the direct transmission route.”

Without that information, it is difficult for contact trackers to know that they have “blocked all transmission lines.”

University of Queensland virologist Professor Ian Mackay told ABC that finding the original source was critical.

“If we can find the index case, that means we can work from there to make sure all the contacts have been identified,” he said.

“If we can’t find the source, there is always the possibility that some cases have been missed.”

It is also important to know this to ensure that there are no holes in the system that could cause cases to escape from abroad undetected.

“Where did this case come from? Is it through a leaky quarantine system? We guess it’s because there don’t seem to be cases in Australia. But maybe there are,” he said.