Work with us: Port Macquarie-Hastings region ramps up COVID measures for Sydney visitors after northern beaches cluster grows

The region has already seen an influx of summer holiday travellers and a surge in Christmas shoppers with main arterial roads into Port Macquarie choked with traffic at peak times throughout the day.

All states outside of NSW have reintroduced harder border restrictions for all greater Sydney residents. However, within New South Wales there is a growing sense of concern the Avalon COVID cluster will become more widespread across regional parts of the state given current holiday travel if harsher lockdown measures are not put in place for the entire Sydney region.

Two confirmed cases from the northern beaches cluster were found, through contact tracing, to have visited both Raymond Terrace and Forster. A public health alert is now in place for those areas.

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Macquarie Waters Boutique Hotel in Port Macquarie has fielded dozens of calls and processed cancellations for Christmas bookings.

Manager Jessica Isaac said the hotel has refused bookings for Sydney's northern beaches guests and cancelled pre-booked accommodation for anyone from those areas of high alert.

"We are still accepting bookings for anyone outside of that Sydney area and will continue to until that changes," Jessica said.

"Most have cancelled anyway because they have been told to stay put and are following instructions. We have COVID safe check-in at the hotel as well and on their registration cards they have to confirm they haven't travelled to a confirmed hotspot or hotspot locations.

"We've also ramped up our own procedures. We have made check-in completely contactless and we are signing people in with the Service NSW app ourselves so we know it's done.

"We don't want (COVID) to come to Port Macquarie and we don't want any of our people to get it so we are trying to be cautious."

It is yet another hit for the tourism industry across Port Macquarie-Hastings after the 2019 holiday season was decimated by bushfires. But Jessica says it's not all about business either - it's important people continue to feel welcome to the region and want to holiday here.

"We've been completely flexible when it comes COVID, like we were with the bushfires - it's out of anyone's control. If people have to cancel we are refunding them right up until the day of check-in," Jessica said.

"We really want them to come and have a holiday. We just need to be kind, caring and flexible."

Rydges Port Macquarie general manager Andrew McKenna said there has been a short-term hit to bookings but it is still shaping up to be a busy holiday period.

"Unfortunately we have had a few cancellations but only for next five to six days as people sit back and wait and hope things will be OK," Mr McKenna said.

"It's those short-term holidays people were taking straight after Christmas where people are now holding off.

"Compared to last year, this is looking to be one of our best summers ever and we still do have plenty of bookings from other regional areas of NSW.

"We're advising people to follow NSW Health advice and guidelines for what they can and can't do and we will be operating our businesses that way.

"People need to bear with our staff as they work bit harder than before to make sure we do all the right thing."

Other businesses across the region are also ramping up COVID measures.

World Gym in Port Macquarie has imposed a ban on all casual visitors from the south of the Hastings region.

"Effective immediately, our club will not be accepting casual visitors who are travelling from south of the greater Port Macquarie region," it announced on Monday, December 21.

"Any casual visitors from Port Macquarie and north will only be accepted if they have not travelled south in the last 14 days.

"In light of the current COVID outbreak in Sydney, it is our priority to keep our members and staff safe and healthy and to keep our club operating."

Oasis by the River restaurant at North Haven has re-introduced strict protocols for bookings and will not be permitting visitors from Sydney's northern beaches to attend the premises.

Kendall Services and Citizens Club is extending their entry refusal to anyone from greater Sydney, as well as Raymond Terrace and Forster-Tuncurry.

Contact tracing has already determined that two confirmed cases from the Avalon cluster had visited various locations in Forster. Anyone who attended Café Toscano - particularly in the outdoor verandah area - at 1 Wallis Street on Wednesday, December 16, between 6pm and 7.45pm is considered a close contact of a confirmed case, should get tested immediately and self-isolate until December 30.

Anyone who was at Beach Bums Café, corner Beach Street and North Street, Forster on Wednesday December 16, between 8am-9am and Thursday, December 17 between 8am and 9am is considered a casual contact of a confirmed case and should get tested and remain isolated until a negative result is received and monitor for symptoms.

The news has prompted a spike in the number of people across Port Macquarie-Hastings presenting at COVID clinics for testing.

There are no confirmed or active cases of the virus on the Mid North Coast.

NSW Health urges people to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene and present for testing even if experiencing the mildest of symptoms.

The "stay at home" Public Health Order for northern beaches Sydney residents also applies to anyone who visited the northern beaches on or after December 10, irrespective of their current location.

Visit the NSW Health website for the latest case locations and alerts or click here for the news and updates.

Anyone in NSW with even the mildest symptoms such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, is asked to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until a negative result is received.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic click here.

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