NSW has recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 on the last day of winter as Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists a Sydney CBD virus cluster isn't out of control.
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The 10 coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday came from more than 14,000 tests, with six of those travellers in hotel quarantine and four linked to the CBD cluster.
The cluster is associated with the City Tattersalls gym, and people who attended the facility between 8am and 2pm on August 19, 21, 23, 24 and 25 are considered close contacts and must self-isolate and get tested immediately.
"We are not out of the woods in relation to that cluster, but it's pleasing to know our fears about the CBD cluster have not yet materialised, in that it's being contained," Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Monday.
She flagged that if the cluster was contained she could reconsider the ban on visits to Sydney and Central Coast nursing homes in time for Father's day on Sunday.
"We will update the aged care advice later in the week ahead of Father's Day and may be able to ease restrictions on aged care," she said.
However, a Sydney bus route, gym and pub on Monday became the latest subjects of urgent public health warnings related to the gym cluster.
Commuters who boarded the same Sydney bus as two confirmed COVID-19 cases have been told to immediately self-isolate. Passengers on the X39 bus that left the CBD at 6.08pm on August 20 and arrived in Randwick at 6.40pm are considered close contacts.
There were 14 people on the bus, with 13 traced to date.
NSW Health is urging everyone to wear a mask while on public transport, but NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay on Monday reiterated her call to make it compulsory.
Ms Berejiklian is resisting mounting pressure to mandate mask wearing on public transport, saying that about 60 per cent of commuters were compliant with health advice to wear them.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said forcing the issue could alienate some members of the public.
"Once we make it mandatory, it will mean that there'll be no exceptions to the rule," she said.
"We need to give time for the community to embrace masks, get used to them, acquire them."
The NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union's Tram and Bus Division says the recommendation for masks on public transport doesn't go far enough.
"The NSW government recently told bus drivers it would review health advice and guidelines if community infection levels increase, well now it should be clear that health measures are most effective when proactive," RTBU Tram and Bus Division secretary David Babineau said in a statement.
In another alert, people who attended Highfield Caringbah pub for more than two hours from 6pm to 8.30pm on August 22 are also being told to immediately isolate and seek testing.
Gym-goers who used Randwick's Fitness First weights room on August 23 from 3.30pm to 4.15pm have also been directed to self-isolate as close contacts of a known case.
Meanwhile, Reddam Early Learning Centre at Lindfield in Sydney's north has been closed for cleaning after a staff member tested positive, having worked from August 25 to 27 while infectious.
St Paul's Catholic College in Greystanes is also shut on Monday for cleaning.
Additional alerts for casual contacts were also issued for Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse at Balmain in the inner west, Sushi Rio in Chatswood and Coles at St Ives in Sydney's north.
Six COVID-19 patients in NSW are in intensive care, with four ventilated.
"Today is the last day of winter and I'm pleased we got through the winter months as well as we did," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Now that the warmer weather is upon us, can I please ask everybody to think about their activities when they're outdoors.
"Enjoying the sun is a healthy experience, just make sure you keep your social distance."
Australian Associated Press