COVID-19 hits more CBD venues
Image: The Holy Duck! restaurant in Chippendale is one of 4 COVID-19 effected venues in Sydney's CBD. Photo: Holy Duck
By ALLISON HORE
Diners at a number of inner-city restaurants and bars are being asked to get tested and self-isolate after being visited by patrons while they were possibly infectious with COVID-19.
A patron, who is said to have acquired COVID-19 through community transmission, visited Holy Duck! at Kensington St, Chippendale on July 10 between 7.15pm and 9.30pm. The patron was one of 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state on Sunday.
The restaurant closed on Saturday night for deep cleaning and has provided details of all staff and customers present on the night to NSW Health for the contact tracing efforts. Anyone who attended the restaurant is being asked to stay in self isolation for 14 days.
“We are committed to doing what we can to keep everyone safe and are currently undergoing a deep clean of the restaurant. Once this is completed, we will reopen to the public,” the restaurant said on their Facebook page on Sunday.
On Monday two Paddington venues were also confirmed as having been visited by potentially-infectious COVID-19 carriers. Visitors at popular Oxford street Italian joint, Love Supreme, on Tuesday July 14 from 5.30pm to 9pm are being asked to monitor symptoms. The restaurant will be closed to allow time for staff to be tested and for extra cleaning.
“We’ve been advised that one of our diners on Tuesday 14th July has tested positive,” Love Supreme announced on their Facebook page.
“We’ve also been advised it’s low risk but we are taking every precaution and hope the distancing, deep cleaning and contact lists will do the job and keep everyone safe.
Meanwhile, the Village Inn has also closed for additional cleaning and staff testing after a patron at the venue on Saturday 11 July from 6:30 to 10pm tested positive. Anyone who attended the venue between those times is being asked to get tested should symptoms occur.
Holy Duck! and the two Paddington spots joined the Star Casino as the CBD venues on a long list of restaurants and bars across the state which have been associated with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
NSW Health said transmission in hotels and restaurants, gyms and social gatherings was of “particular concern”, and encouraged people to avoid non-essential travel and social gatherings to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19 as severe as the one in Victoria.
“It wouldn’t take much for us to be in Melbourne’s situation and we need everyone’s assistance,” said NSW Health deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty.
“Everyone has got a role to play. Don’t be complacent.”
On Friday the NSW government rolled out stricter rules for venues following the outbreaks at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula and across the Central Coast. Restrictions include the maximum number of people allowed per booking being dropped from 20 to 10 and large venues being capped at 300 patrons. To enable easier contact tracing, venues now have to keep a digital record of patron names and phone numbers and submit it to Service NSW within 24 hours.
COVID-19 impacted venues in the CBD:
- Star City Casino, Pyrmont (Saturday, July 4)
- Holy Duck! Restaurant, Chippendale (Friday, July 10, 7.15pm to 9.30pm)
- The Village Inn, Paddington (Saturday ,11 July from 6:30 to 10pm)
- Love Supreme, Paddington (Tuesday July 14 from 5.30pm to 9pm)
