28 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified in Sydney’s northern beaches.

11 new cases have been recorded since 8pm Thursday, including one person in Queensland connected to the area.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant believes a “significant seeding event” occurred at Avalon RSL on December 11.

Eight of the cases attended the RSL, 16 visited the Avalon Bowlo on December 13, and two cases attended both venues.

Two cases are residents of south-east Sydney, and are linked to the cluster. Cronulla RSL has closed for deep cleaning after one of the cases visited the venue on Wednesday.

All northern beaches residents have been requested not to travel outside of the LGA for three days while investigations are continuing.

NSW Health also advise residents to stay home as much as possible, avoiding hospitals, restaurants, gyms and other high-risk venues.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced all aged care facilities in the northern beaches will be closed to visitors immediately and indefinitely.

She flagged possible reintroduction of restrictions if the cluster continues to grow.

“You should not be leaving your home unless it is absolutely necessary.

“Nobody should be getting on public transport without a mask … it would just be crazy if people are undertaking … activities without a mask.”

On Wednesday afternoon an Avalon couple in their 60s and 70s were diagnosed with COVID-19, but allegedly failed to isolate pending their test results, which has triggered a number of health alerts.

Yesterday, 17 further cases were identified, including an aged care worker in her 50s at Pittwater Palms retirement community in Avalon and her partner, and a drummer in his 60s from Frenchs Forest.

The musician performed recently in a number of venues across the greater Sydney area, including the Avalon, Penrith and Kirribilli RSLs.

Dr Chant confirmed a link between all five cases, with the woman in her 60s attending the drummer’s Avalon RSL performance and later coming into contact with the aged care worker at Avalon Bowlo.

Genomic sequencing has indicated it is an international strain of the virus circulating, likely of US origin.

Close contact locations (must test and self-isolate for 14 days):

Avalon

• Avalon Beach RSL Club on Friday December 11 at any time
• Avalon Bowlo on Sunday December 13 from 3pm to 5pm
• Sneaky Grind Café at Avalon Beach on Monday December 14 from 10.30am to 11am

Palm Beach

• Palm Beach female change rooms on Sunday December 13 from 9am to 9:15am
• Coast Palm Beach Café, Palm Beach on Sunday December 13 from 10am to 11am

Newport

• Rusti Fig Café, Newport, Saturday December 12, 9-10am

Turramurra

• Salon of Hair, Turramurra, Tuesday December 15, 10am-3pm and Wednesday December 16, 9.30am-3.30pm

Lane Cove

• Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre Lane Cove, 11 December, 3.30-5pm

Woolloomoolo

• Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomoolo, 11 December, 12-2pm.

Cronulla

• Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, 97 Gerrale St, Cronulla, 16 December 11.30am-2.30pm
• Cronulla RSL Club, 38 Gerrale St, Cronulla on 16 December, 5pm to closing time.

Kirribilli

• Kirribilli Club Monday December 14 from 12pm to 3pm

Penrith

• Penrith RSL Club on Sunday December 13 from 1pm to 6pm

Casual contact locations (test immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result):

Avalon

• Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 13 December, 6-8pm
• Nourished Wholefood Café, Avalon, 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
• Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5-5.30pm
• Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5.20-5.25pm
• Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
• Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.15pm
• Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.20pm
• North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 6-6.05pm
• Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 16 December 7-7:30am
• Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 16 December 3.30-3.50pm

Palm Beach

• Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am
• Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 16 December, 8am-9am

Newport

• Coles Newport, 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
• Restaurant Lovat, Newport, 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm

Mona Vale

• Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, 14 December, 11-11.10am
• Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12-12.30pm
• Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12.45-1.30pm

Terrey Hills

• Hills Florist, Terrey Hills, 12 December, 8-8.45am – close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
• Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Terrey Hills, 16 December, 4-4.10pm

North Narrabeen

• Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, 16 December, 2pm-2:05pm

Dee Why

• HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, 15 December 4.30-4.45pm
• Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, 15 December, 4.45-4.55pm

Bondi

• Westfield Bondi Junction, 15 December, 1-2.30pm

Cronulla

• Paris Seafood Café, 136 Cronulla, 15 December, 8.30-9pm
• Cronulla Mall, 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December 11am-12pm

Darling Point

• RAN Sailing Association Darling Point, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party, 13 December, 10am‑4pm

Eveleigh

• Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Eveleigh, 14 December, 8-11.30am

Roseberry

• Mentmore and Morley Café and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry, 14 December 10am-3pm

Riverstone

• Blend @ Grantham Café, Riverstone, 16 December 11-11.45am

Artarmon

• Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Artarmon, 15 December, 2-2:30pm

Confirmed cases also travelled on the following public transport routes. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

• Train from Roseville to Redfern, 14 December, 6.50-7.40am
• Train from Redfern to Milsons Point, 14 December, 11.20am-11.45am
• Train from Milsons Point to Roseville, 14 December, 3.15-3.40pm
• Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
• Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD
  • Route 273, 15 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
  • Route 271, 15 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
  • Route 273, 16 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
  • Route 271, 16 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm

Several new pop-up testing clinics have been set up in the Northern Beaches in response to increased demand:

• Avalon pop-up, Avalon Recreation Centre, 59 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm.
• Newport Pop up, Newport Community Centre, 11-13 The Boulevard, Newport. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm.
• Warringah Aquatic Centre Drive-through, 1 Aquatic Dr, Frenchs Forest. Open seven days a week, 8am to 10pm.
• Avalon Laverty drive-through pathology, Avalon Bowling Club Car Park, Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach NSW 2107. Open seven days, 8am to 4pm.
• Mona Vale Hospital, Gate 3 Coronation Street, Mona Vale. Open seven days 7.30am to 5.30pm. Please note that staffing has been increased to assist with testing demand.
• Brookvale Community Health Centre, 612-624 Pittwater Road, Brookvale. Open seven days, 8am-6pm.
• Northern Beaches Hospital, 105 Frenchs Forest Road (West), Frenchs Forest, (rear of Emergency Department). Open seven days, 8am-5pm.

Image: Getty