COVID-infected Sydney taxi driver worked for nine days, visited South Coast venues

COVID-infected Sydney taxi driver worked for nine days, visited South Coast venues

Residents of seven Sydney suburbs who caught Silver Service taxis recently will need to check for COVID-19 symptoms after it was revealed yesterday that a taxi driver worked over nine days while infectious.

The individual, who is believed to have caught the virus at Liverpool Hospital, worked on September 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in Moorebank, Bankstown, Chipping Norton, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Warwick Farm and Milperra.

NSW Health reports the individual "pleasingly" had the COVIDSafe App, which is being used to help identify contacts.

The person also visited several venues in Western and South Western Sydney and the South Coast.

Anyone who attended the following venues for a least one hour during the following times is considered to be a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there. They must stay isolated for the entire period, even if a negative test result is received, as 14 days is the maximum time it generally takes for COVID-19 to develop:

  • Campbelltown Golf Club, Glen Alpine - 16 September, 2pm-4.30pm
  • Milton Ulladulla Ex Servos Club - 12 September, 2pm-6.15pm
  • Carlo's Italian Restaurante Bar & Seafood, Ulladulla - 12 September, 8pm-9.30pm
  • Bannisters Pavilion Rooftop Bar & Grill, Mollymook - 13 September, 12.30pm-2.15pm
  • Mama Wok, MacArthur Square Campbelltown - 9 September 1:30pm-2:30pm

Anyone who attended these venues within the indicated timeframes for less than one hour is considered a casual contact, as are those who attended the following venues at the specified times:

  • Picnic Point Bowling Club 18 September, 3pm-6pm
  • Campbelltown Golf Club course Glen Alpine 16 September, 9.30am-2pm
  • Wray St Oyster Shed Batemans Bay 12 September,12 pm-1 pm

As of yesterday NSW Health was treating 78 COVID-19 cases, including two in intensive care, one of whom was being ventilated. 86 per cent of cases being treated by NSW Health are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

Buffet restaurant fined for lax COVID Safe practices

SafeWork NSW revealed yesterday that a Korean BBQ restaurant in Strathfield was fined $5,000 for having an open buffet where diners shared crockery, cutlery and food.

When SafeWork NSW inspectors visited Butchers Buffet on 11 September, they observed patrons accessing plates, condiments, serving utensils, bowls and trays of food as well as shared utensils on tables.

There was no safety marshal in place or stated limits on the maximum number of customers allowed on the premises. Chairs and tables were not adequately spaced, and CCTV footage showed patrons were not physically distancing when helping themselves at the buffet.

SafeWork NSW's director for work health and safety metro, Sarina Wise, said these sorts of breaches defied logic.

"Self-serve buffets and pandemics simply don't mix, creating a source of potentially contaminated items," Wise said.

"No self-serve buffet style food service areas are allowed including communal bar snacks and communal condiments.

"Sharing items on a buffet is clearly a direct line for COVID transmission."

In addition to the risks posed by buffets, hospitality businesses across the board are being warned against complacency, after inspectors from Liquor & Gaming NSW, SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading last week issued 23 new fines for COVID breaches.

Inspectors from the three agencies reported a string of breaches relating to:

  • Gaming machine spacing
  • Spacing between tables and chairs
  • Not having a COVID-19 Safety Plan
  • Not being registered as COVID safe

We're calling on the public to hold businesses to account; if you visit a venue and find yourself back to back or shoulder to shoulder with other patrons, if you see poor hygiene or no sign in processes, report it via the COVID safety feedback portal on nsw.gov.au,"  Wise said.

The following businesses were fined last week:

  • Albion Hotel - Parramatta
  • Ashfield Bowling Club - Ashfield
  • Butchers Buffet - Strathfield
  • Cafe on Monash - Gladesville
  • Commercial Hotel - Kingsgrove
  • Collector Hotel - Parramatta
  • Crown Hotel - Parramatta
  • Erciyes Turkish Restaurant - Redfern
  • General Bourke - Parramatta
  • Glasgow Arms Hotel - Ultimo
  • Indian Leaf - Redfern
  • La Famiglia Ristorante & Pizzeria - Jindabyne
  • Lotus Barangaroo - Barangaroo
  • Maya Da Dhaba - Redfern
  • Mohr Fish - St Ives
  • Rosehill Hotel - Rosehill
  • Oscars Sports Hotel - Bankstown
  • Rosehill Hotel - Rosehill
  • Royal Hotel - Darlington
  • Ship Inn - Sydney
  • Southern Cross Hotel - St Peters
  • St Jude Café - Redfern
  • Thredbo Alpine Hotel
  • Zushi Restaurant - Barangaroo

Updated at 10:11am AEST on 21 September 2020.

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