NSW records 14 new coronavirus infections, eight linked to City Tattersalls Club

   Dr Christine Selvey says 10 new cases can be linked to a known case or cluster.                                                                                Health authorities have confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours, eight of which are linked to a cluster that originated in the Sydney CBD.

NSW Health is investigating whether the cluster started at the City Tattersalls Club and then spread to workplaces in the city and to households across Sydney and the Central Coast.

The Sydney CBD cluster now includes 23 cases and authorities are warning anyone who attended the City Tattersalls Club between August 4 and 18 to get tested.

Among the 14 new cases, three attended the Tattersalls club and four were close contacts of people linked to the CBD cluster.

One was a returning traveller in hotel quarantine and three cases are still under investigation. All others are linked to previously reported cases .

NSW Police has also confirmed 12 security guards have been taken off duty in Sydney’s quarantine hotels for not enforcing standards.

Some were caught sleeping on the job, posting videos of inappropriate behaviour on social media or attempting to work for two different companies in a 24-hour period.

On-the-spot audits with a focus on cleanliness will now take place at all Sydney quarantine hotels in addition to other monitoring already in place.

It follows the removal of nearly 400 guests at the Travelodge hotel in Surry Hills this week after complaints over hygiene standards as well as the removal of two security guards who tested positive at the Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay. 

Genomic sequencing of the virus from the CBD cluster has not revealed any link to the security guard cases at the Marriott.

This morning authorities issued new alerts for the following locations:

• Archie Bear cafe, Mosman Rowers — August 24 (11:00am to 12:00pm) and August 25 (9:00am to 9:30am)
• Rosebery Post Shop, 371 Gardeners Rd, Rosebery — August 26 (1:30pm to 1:40pm)
• St Ives Shopping Centre, 166 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives — August 24 (2:30pm to 3:30 pm)

Due to the widening spread of the CBD cluster across multiple locations, NSW Health is also strongly advising people who live or work in these areas to not visit aged care facilities.

In the past 24 hours 24,632 tests were completed, a significant drop from the 30,282 the day before.

The total number of cases in NSW is now 3,844.