27 july in NSW
NSW sees 17 new coronavirus infections over past 24 hours
Illegal BLM protest slammed as 'the most dangerous thing you can do in a pandemic'
NSW sees 17 new coronavirus infections over past 24 hours
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nsw-sees-17-new-coronavirus-infections-over-past-24-hours/ar-BB17dH0s?ocid=msedgntpNew South Wales faces a "critical time" over the next 3 to 4 weeks after health authorities confirmed 17 new coronavirus infections today.
8 of the cases are returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, and four are linked to a funerals cluster in Sydney's south-west.
There are 3 new infections linked to the Thai Rock cluster in Wetherill Park
NSW Health last night confirmed two cases at the Thai Rock restaurant in Potts Point.The two restaurants are under the same management.One of the new infections remains under investigation.
Chief health officer, Kerry Chant, urged people across the state to redouble their efforts to stop the spread of the virus by getting tested and avoiding non-essential travel and large gatherings.
She said while most cases have been linked to known clusters, community transmission continues."This is a critical time over the next three to four weeks and if we can all play our part in changing behaviours and reducing interactions it will help us control the spread of COVID-19," she said.
"This is an anxious time. I think this is a critical time where we need the community to modify their behaviours."
NSW Health issued a warning that anyone who attended the Thai Rock restaurant at Potts Point between Wednesday, July 15 and Saturday, July 25 needs to be immediately tested.
It says they must also self-isolate for 14 days since they were last there, after a diner who visited the restaurant on Friday, July 17 tested positive last week.
A restaurant staff member has now also tested positive.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/potts-point-thai-rock-restaurant-confirms-covid-19-case/ar-BB17dptl?ocid=msedgntpPotts Point Thai Rock restaurant confirms COVID-19 case
A second Sydney Thai Rock restaurant has closed for deep cleaning after a worker tested positive to the coronavirus.
Health authorities asked anyone who attended the Potts Point restaurant between Wednesday July 15 and Saturday July 25 be tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days since their last visit to the venue.
Officials have not connected the case to the Wetherill Park Thai Rock cluster which has now been linked to 67 infections.
There are now 9 cases relating to church and funeral services between July 16 and 19 in south-west Sydney which were reported on Saturday.
A couple who tested positive after the Bankstown funeral gatherings are known to have dined at two restaurants.
Anyone who visited the Tan Viet Noodle House Cabramatta (AKA Crispy Chicken Noodle House) between 1:00pm and 2:00pm on Wednesday, July 22,
or An Restaurant Bankstown between 9:00am and 11:00am on Thursday, July 23 should watch for symptoms and get tested if they appear.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed sympathy for those attending funerals but warned that the risk of spreading the virus remained high at large gatherings."We know that funerals are terribly emotional time for people but please, unless it's your immediate household you cannot have physical contact — whether it's a wedding, a funeral or whether you're out socialising with friends," she said.
"It is so important for all of us not to let down our guard because when you let down your guard the virus can take hold and spread."Our lives can stay at this level of freedom and economic stability and continuity if all of us continue to do the right thing which is so critical.
"A student at Georges River Grammar School in Sydney's south-west who tested positive yesterday is also linked to the funerals cluster, NSW Health says.
The school has been closed for cleaning, and close contacts are being asked to self-isolate.
NSW Health is continuing to appeal for anyone who attended the affected funeral services to immediately self-isolate and get tested regardless of symptoms.
The services are:
St Brendan's Catholic Church at Bankstown for one hour on July 16 from 6:30pm
Ausia Funeral Services at Fairfield East on July 17 between 1:00pm and 8:00pm Funeral service at St Brendan's Catholic Church, Bankstown for one hour on July 18 from 10:00am
Burial service at St John of God Lawn at Rookwood Cemetery on July 18 between 11:30am and 1:00pm
Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church at Mt Pritchard for one hour on July 19 from 7:30am
Testing in the area is available at Fairfield Hospital and a drive-through clinic at the Fisher Street car park in Cabramatta.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nsw-covid-19-hotspots-list-of-regional-and-sydney-outbreak-locations/ar-BB17dY7q?ocid=msedgntpNSW Covid-19 hotspots: list of regional and Sydney outbreak locations
New South Wales has seen an uptick in community transmission of coronavirus in recent weeks, putting the state on high alert to prevent further spread.
Many new cases can be traced back to the Crossroads Hotel cluster, but new locations have cropped up in the news briefings each day.
Here is an overview of the state’s current hotspots :
List of outbreaks in NSW
If you were at the following venues on these dates you must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, even if your test is negative.
St Brendan’s Catholic Church, Bankstown: Thursday 16 July – 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Saturday 18 July – 10am to 11am funeral.
Batemans Bay Soldiers Club: Monday 13 July, Wednesday 15 July, Thursday 16 July, Friday 17 July.
Plus Fitness Campbelltown: 9am to 10am, Saturday 11 July.
West Leagues Club Campbelltown: Friday 10 July 8pm to midnight, Sunday 12 July, midnight to 2.30am.
Crossroads Hotel Casula: Friday 3 July to Friday 10 July.
Planet Fitness Casula: Saturday 4 July to Friday 10 July.
Ausia Funeral Services, Fairfield East: Friday 17 July – 1pm to 8pm
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park: Wednesday 15 July – 5.30pm Mass, Thursday 16 July – 6pm Mass, Friday 17 July – 1pm funeral and 6pm Mass.
Anytime Fitness Gym, Merrylands: Tuesday 14 July – 8.30pm to 10.30pm
Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Mount Pritchard: Sunday July 19 – 7.30am to 8.30am
Picton Hotel in Picton: Saturday 4 July, Sunday 5 July, Thursday 9 July, Friday 10 July.
Thai Rock Restaurant, Potts Point: Wednesday 15 July to Saturday 25 July inclusive if you attended this restaurant for two hours or more.
St John of God Lawn, Rookwood: Saturday 18 July – 11.30am to 1pm burial.
Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park: Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July, Tuesday 14 July.
C1 Speed Indoor Karting, Albion Park: Saturday 11 July, 6pm to 7pm.
McDonald’s Albion Park, Wednesday 15 July, 2pm to 2.30pm.
An Restaurant, Bankstown: Thursday 23 July, 9am to 11am
Mancini’s Original Woodfired Pizza, Belfield: Friday 10 July, 8pm to 9.20pm.
Woolworths Bowral: Saturday 11 July, 12pm to 9pm, and Sunday 12 July, 12pm to 9pm.
Hurricanes Grill, Brighton Le Sands, Saturday 11 July 6pm to 9pm.
Tan Viet Noodle House (also known as Crispy Chicken Noodle House), Bankstown: Wednesday 22 July – 1pm to 2pm
Bavarian Macarthur in Campbelltown, Saturday 11 July, 7.30pm to 9pm.
Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown: Saturday 11 July, 9.15pm to 12.40am.
Kmart Casula: Friday 10 July, 5pm to midnight.
Holy Duck! Chippendale: Friday 10 July, 7.15pm to 9.30pm.
Windsor Castle Hotel, East Maitland: Monday 13 July – 6pm to 8pm.
Guzman y Gomez, Hoxton Park: Sunday 12 July – 7.30pm to 9pm.
Club Malua, Malua Bay: Sunday 12 July – 12pm to 1.30pm.
Costco, Marsden Park: Sunday 19 July – 11am to 2pm.
Frankie’s Food Factory in Milperra, Friday 10 July, 1pm to 3pm.
Westfield Mount Druitt, Saturday 18 July, 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
Club Narooma, Narooma: Monday 13 July, 12.30pm to 2pm.
Rashays in North Wollongong: Saturday 11 July, 7pm to 9pm.
Love Supreme in Paddington: Tuesday 14 July, 5.30pm to 9pm.
The Village Inn in Paddington: Saturday 11 July, 6.30pm to 10pm
Milky Lane in Parramatta: Saturday 11 July, 2pm to 3pm.
Bankstown YMCA in Revesby: Thursday 9 July, 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday 11 July, 8am to 12pm.
Salamander Bay Shopping Centre, Salamander Bay: Wednesday 15 July.
Salamander Bay Woolworths, Salamander Bay: 17 July between 2.30pm to closing time, 18 July between 4pm to closing time, 19 July between 12.45pm to closing time, 20 July between 3pm to closing time.
Salamander Bay Shopping Centre, Salamander Bay: Wednesday 15 July
Pharmacy for Less Tahmoor: Sunday 12 July, 9am to 10.40am.
Zone Bowling Villawood: Saturday 27 June, 11am to 3pm.
Stockland Mall in Wetherill Park: Saturday 4 July, Sunday 5 July, Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July, Tuesday 14 July.
Illegal BLM protest slammed as 'the most dangerous thing you can do in a pandemic'
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/sydney/illegal-blm-protest-slammed-as-the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-in-a-pandemic/ar-BB17c64F?ocid=msedgntpThe NSW Government has slammed an illegal Black Lives Matter demonstration in Sydney as "the most dangerous act that anybody could do during a pandemic".
Thousands of protesters are vowing to march in the CBD tomorrow, despite the Supreme Court blocking the demonstration, saying the risk of infection is too high.
Organisers have indicated they plan to lodge an appeal to the court's decision but say they will march regardless of the threat of large fines or jail.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott warned those planning to attend the rally that action by law enforcement will be swift.
"There will be no shortage of police officers and resources available to make sure this illegal gathering doesn't occur," Mr Elliott told Today.
"We have to make sure that these health orders are complied with or otherwise we will find themselves in a situation like they have in Victoria."
The protest was organised by the family of indigenous man David Dungay Junior, who died in Long Bay Jail in December 2015.
An estimated 500 people were expected to take part in the march at Sydney's Town Hall, prior to NSW Police lodging papers with the Supreme Court to ban it.
Organisers have indicated they now want to hold the protest in the Domain.
Mr Elliott said those who attend could face fines or six months in jail.
"It's actually arrogance and it's probably the most dangerous act that anybody could do during a pandemic is organise a mass gathering," he said.
Social distancing was virtually impossible and health authorities would find contact tracing extremely difficult if someone tested positive for COVID-19, he said.
"They can't contact everybody," Mr Elliott added.
"That is the big risk - that you're going to be marching alongside for a couple of hours with somebody whose identity they can't confirm and if they find out they test positive for COVID-19 it's impossible for us to tell everybody they need to be tested," he said.
In a statement, NSW Police urged protesters to strongly reconsider attending.
"The protest is now unauthorised," NSW Police said in a statement.
"Those thinking of attending – despite the Supreme Court decision and health advice – are strongly urged to reconsider their plans.
"While the NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals to exercise their right to free speech, large-scale events, such as these, are currently subject to restrictions under the Public Health Act.
"As such, police will not hesitate to take the appropriate action, if required."
When the court decision to block the protest was announced, Mr Dungay's nephew, Paul Silva, said his family planned to continue to fight for justice.
"Me and my family are disappointed about the outcome of the court hearing today but we will be appealing the decision to the Court of Appeal as we won't stop until there is justice for my Uncle's death," a statement said.
"The reason we are protesting is because after 5 years not a single person has been held accountable for the death of my uncle.
"The Police say they want to shut us down because they are concerned about peoples' lives but they don't care about black lives, are we not humans too?
"The Commissioner isn't interested in investigating my Uncle's death, all he wants to do is to shut me up and silence black voices. To stop us complaining about the way we are treated."
Barrister for the police Michael Spartalis argued all the evidence supported a prohibition on the gathering on public health grounds.
During three hours of deliberations on Thursday there was no mention of the dangers of coronavirus, and instead the focus was on what the police commissioner told Ben Fordham in an early morning 2GB radio interview.
Mick Fuller said this week the reason for the outbreak in Victoria was due to people travelling from public housing blocks to a Black Lives Matter rally in June.
However, Victoria Health have said there is no link between the rally and the recent spike in numbers.
Lawyers for the protesters argued the court should throw out the bid to stop the rally, claiming Mr Fuller "thwarted" the process when he told Fordham he had instructed officers to challenge the rally before the organisers presented their COVID-Safe plan.
The organiser's barrister Felicity Graham told the court he should "stay off the airwaves... before the statutory processes are fulfilled".
Police are arguing the rally is too great a risk to public health given the current outbreak.
On Thursday, Mr Dunngay's family vowed to push ahead with the rally regardless of the supreme court ruling.
"We're going to continue demanding justice for David Dungay Junior," his nephew Paul Silva said.
"The whole world has seen the footage of him being held down and begging for his life."
Mr Dungay Jnr's death had some parallels with that of George Floyd in the United States.
He was held down by prison officers and said "I can't breathe" before he died.
Earlier this year a Black Lives Matter protest went ahead after a NSW Supreme Court finding was overturned at the last minute.
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https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sydney-black-lives-matter-protest-appeal-dismissed-for-public-health-reasonsSydney Black Lives Matter protest appeal dismissed for public health reasons
The NSW Court of Appeal has upheld an earlier ruling that states the rally would be irresponsible given coronavirus restrictions.
Organisers of a Sydney Black Lives Matter rally have lost their appeal against a New South Wales Supreme Court ruling that their planned protest is prohibited.
The court on Sunday accepted the police argument that the possibility of community transmission of COVID-19 arising from the CBD rally made Tuesday's planned event too risky.
The NSW Court of Appeal on Monday afternoon rejected a challenge by the organisers which was primarily based on an argument that Justice Mark Ierace did not have the authority to prohibit the rally.
Chief Justice Tom Bathurst, sitting with Justices Andrew Bell and Robert Macfarlan, made no order as to legal costs after noting the challenge was a matter of public importance involving complex legislation.
The court will hand down its reasons as soon as possible.
Dominic Toomey SC, for rally organiser Paddy Gibson, unsuccessfully submitted to the Appeal Court that Justice Ierace erred in determining the Supreme Court had jurisdiction to hear the police prohibition application.
Despite the failed appeal, organisers still plan to go ahead with the rally, which will now be held in Sydney's Domain instead of at Town Hall.
A petition signed by 90,000 people will then be delivered to state parliament.
"Although NSW Police and the NSW Government have tried to silence First Nations people once again, we're not going to be silent," organiser Paul Silva, the nephew of Mr Dungay, told SBS News.
"Justice which really needs to be served for the death of David Dungay Jr."
The family of Mr Dungay have asked that people attending the rally abide by COVID-19 safety protocols.
Participants have been encouraged to wear masks, with hand sanitiser provided for those who can't bring their own.
Organisers will be asking attendees to register their attendance online to allow for contact-tracing.
Roughly 1,400 people have registered their intent to attend the rally on Facebook, with another 3,400 interested in participating.
<< we at least they are trying to do the right thing , face masks, hand sanitizer , register of attendee ( hopefully everyone will be honest with that ) . Still , IMO they should not go ahead when the covid19 situation in NSW ( esp Sydney ) is so close to becoming a run away situation like in Melbourne . Very selfish IMO .>>
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned anyone deemed to be defying a coronavirus health order would face a $1,000 on-the-spot fine.
"If we're taking adequate steps to say within the current COVID-19 laws, like social distancing in groups of 20, there's no reason for NSW Police to step in and issues fines to attendees," Mr Silva said.
He also confirmed organisers remain willing to suspend Tuesday's rally if the NSW government announces an investigation into Mr Dungay's death.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision and urged people to stay away.
"The NSW Government urges both the organisers and anyone thinking of attending to stay away, abide by the law, and seriously consider the consequences of their potential actions," Mr Elliott said in a statement.
"A pandemic is no time to attend a mass gathering, no matter how honourable the cause."