Australia pub cluster adds to second-wave fears

A growing coronavirus cluster at a pub in Australia is stoking fears of a second wave in the country.

The country's most populous state, New South Wales, reported 14 new cases on Monday, 13 of them linked to an outbreak at a pub in Sydney, the Crossroads Hotel.

Health official Michael Kidd said Monday (July 13) the new cases are alarming.

"Of course, part of the concern is that this hotel is used by freight drivers who are transporting essential supplies across the country so this is a really important issue for everyone across the country."

The new cases come after neighboring Victoria state forced some 5 million people back into lockdown last week amid a surge in cases and shut the border with New South Wales for the first time in 100 years.

In a bid to curtail the spread, authorities urged anyone who attended the pub to isolate for two weeks and get tested.

On Monday long lines of cars were seen waiting - some for over three hours - at a drive-through testing clinic at the venue.

In Victoria authorities said they have found over 170 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours--the eighth consecutive day of triple digit rises.

Authorities remain worried about rising cases of community transmission.

But overall, with fewer than 10,000 cases in total, Australia has so far avoided the high casualty numbers of other nations with swift and strict measures.