The Star Sydney confirms patron tested positive for COVID-19

A patron who visited The Star Sydney on Saturday 4 July has returned a positive test for COVID-19, but the casino will remain open.

The operator of the casino and resort The Star Entertainment Group (ASX: SGR) confirmed the positive test this afternoon, explaining that the person attended The Star Sydney on 4 July from around 7:30pm to 10:30pm.

"The Star is working closely with NSW Health to respond to this information, including the conduct of contact tracing (which includes staff members)," says SGR.

"Since its restricted opening on 1 June 2020, The Star Sydney continues to operate in accordance with its COVID-Safe Plan.

"The Plan incorporates spatial distancing measures, and hygiene and cleaning measures across the property including extensive intra-day cleaning and a daily comprehensive clean during a property shutdown between 6am and 10am."

The news comes as NSW recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,303.

Of today's new cases, four are returned travellers in hotel quarantine, two are NSW residents who acquired the infection in Victoria and are now in isolation.

Eight cases counted today include five who attended the Crossroads Hotel, and three are close contacts of cases who were at the hotel. They are all currently isolating. The new cases bring the total number of cases that can be traced to the Crossroads Hotel to 21.

One confirmed case of COVID-19 linked to the Crossroads Hotel also attended Planet Fitness Casula. The gym is closed for cleaning.

Another case linked to the outbreak attended Picton Hotel during their infectious period, attending on 4, 9, and 10 July in the gaming room. The hotel is closed for cleaning.

NSW Health is urging anyone who attended the Crossroads Hotel at Casula between Friday, 3 July and Friday, 10 July to immediately self-isolate until 14 days after they were last there, attend a clinic for testing even if they have no symptoms, watch for respiratory symptoms and get retested should any occur.

The Victoria Department of Health has also reported two Victorian cases separately attended several venues in NSW, including:

• 5 July lunch at Cook @ Kurnell
• 5 July dinner at Highfield, Caringbah
• 6 July dinner at the Merimbula RSL
• 7 July breakfast at the Waterfront Café Merimbula
• 4 and 5 July Murray Downs Golf Club.

While investigations are underway, NSW Health urges anyone who attended these venues at these times must watch for respiratory symptoms or fever, and if they occur, isolate and get tested for COVID-19 right away.

The majority of Australia's 192 new cases of COVID-19 are in Victoria, with the state recording 177 new cases today.

NSW situation places a question mark over SA border reopening

The ongoing situation of local transmission of COVID-19 in NSW has forced South Australian Premier Steven Marshall to rethink his state's border opening up to citizens from NSW and ACT.

Currently, SA is expected to open its borders to NSW and the ACT on 20 July, but this date may change if the COVID-19 situation in NSW worsens.

"At this stage we have to put a question mark around lifting the border on Monday the 20th with both NSW and ACT," says Marshall.

"We are going to be looking at their new infections tomorrow very carefully at our transition committee meeting and if it is not safe to lift our border restrictions then we won't be doing so.

"We just have to see if there is a significant escalation between now and 20 July. I think that that date will come under some further consideration."

Marshall's comments come alongside the state announcing that it will be asking returning travellers from overseas into South Australia to foot the bill for their hotel quarantine stay.

As of Saturday morning (18 July) returning travellers coming into SA will be hit with a $3,000 charge for the first individual, a partner with be a further $1,000, and children will cost $500 each.

"The reality is that people have had plenty of time to get back to Australia," says Marshall.

"There are some real stragglers at the moment and they will need to be paying for the costs that are incurred by the taxpayers.

"They won't be getting that free of charge going forward."

Updated at 1:55pm AEST on 13 July 2020.