Parishioners of Sydney cathedral told to isolate as list of clusters grow

Parishioners who attended the Our lady of Lebanon Cathedral in western Sydney have been told to get tested and isolate after a confirmed case was identified, linked to the Thai Rocks cluster.

Three attendees of Our lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park have tested positive for COVID-19.

Three attendees of Our lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park have tested positive for COVID-19. Source: Our lady of Lebanon Cathedral/Facebook

The cluster at the Lady of Lebanon Parish has now grown to three people, prompting NSW Health to set up a pop-up clinic in Harris Park in western Sydney.

A parishioner attended the church four times before receiving a positive diagnosis, after attending the Thai Rock restaurant in Stockland Mall, Wetherill Park. 

The size of the cluster at the Thai Rock restaurant has now doubled to 16 in the past 24 hours.
Church attendees who were present at four services in the last week are being urged to get tested and to self-isolate. The services attended by the positive case include the session on Wednesday 15 July at 5.30pm, Thursday 16 July at 6pm; and Friday 17 July at 1.30pm or 6pm.

The church has been closed since Saturday evening when it was notified of the first positive test result. A statement from the church said the venue will remain closed until further notice. 

NSW Health said a further two positive cases were confirmed today. 

"Two additional cases, parishioners who also attended services on these days, have now also returned a positive result for COVID-19, both of whom are in isolation," a statement said. 

The department said contact tracing is underway based on the attendance sheet, but it urged parishioners to prepare to get tested if they show symptoms.
NSW Health said those attending church services should abide by the physical distancing restrictions and the hand hygiene rules.

"NSW Health continues to advise against group singing and chanting in religious services, including choirs, given the high risk of transmission associated with these activities. This is particularly important at this time as NSW responds to a number of COVID outbreaks."

The Crossroads Hotel cluster now involves 48 cases, while there is concern over the growing size of the outbreak at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club cluster, which has now expanded to eight cases.

Two Paddington restaurants - Love Supreme and The Village Inn -and Westfield Mount Druitt have also been added to the NSW Health list of clusters in the state

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she is not yet moving to announce a further tightening of restrictions, but urged people to modify their behaviour to reduce the risk of transmission.
"Under the circumstances we are doing okay, but it hasn’t reduced my level of stress or concern. I am as stressed and concerned as I was 10 days ago and two weeks ago; and I do not want us to go down a track where we see suddenly a doubling or tripling of cases.

"That is not good for NSW and not something we want to face. But we do have the chance to get ahead of the virus, to control its spread, if all of us take those extra steps."

NSW Health said people are encouraged to avoid "all non-essential travel" and to limit gatherings to 10 people.

"While it is not a legal requirement, it would be preferable and safer for the time being to avoid all non-essential travel, and not host or attend gatherings of more than 10 people at home (not withstanding that the legal limit is 20 people)," the department said in a statement.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus


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4 min read

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By Biwa Kwan
Source: SBS News


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Parishioners of Sydney cathedral told to isolate as list of clusters grow | SBS News