NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary after 24 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Thursday, with only half in isolation while infectious.
Two new cases included a healthcare worker and an aged care worker, while the number of active exposure locations across the state swelled to more than 300.
NSW Health on Thursday afternoon confirmed a person who attended the mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, between 3.30pm and 5pm, tested positive the following day.
Dr Chant also warned that all people who attended two shopping centres - Pacific Square at Maroubra between June 23 and 30 and the Auburn Central on June 28 - should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Ms Berejiklian said a number of people who had been in the community while infectious was a “cause for concern” and urged anybody who leaves their home to “assume that you have the virus, or that people you come into contact with have the virus.”
“We can’t afford to have people who have the virus going about their business,” the Premier said.
Another two health workers tested positive to COVID-19 yesterday, both linked to a case in an unvaccinated 24-year-old student nurse who worked at Fairfield Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital, that was announced on Wednesday.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the nurse’s close friend, who worked at both hospitals and Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital, had tested positive.
“Extensive contact tracing has occurred around that nurse, and we have identified one healthcare worker who was present at the ward on the Sunday when she was close to completing her shift,” Dr Chant said. “It was pleasing that while infectious this person did not go to work.”
An unvaccinated aged care worker at SummitCare facility in Baulkham Hills has also tested positive. Dr Chant said that 135 out of 149 residents at SummitCare were vaccinated.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard during the COVID-19 update.Credit:Kate Geraghty
More than 200 staff and patients at the hospitals have been identified as close contacts to date, with investigations and contact tracing ongoing.
There were 59,941 tests recorded during the reporting period, a drop from 68,000 tests reported on Wednesday.
“We just need people to be particularly vigilant, if you’ve got the mildest of symptoms, please do not go to work. Instead, get tested and isolate. Just because you have had a negative test on one day, it is important you get re-tested if you get subsequent symptoms,” Dr Chant said.
On Thursday, Sydney Local Health District chief executive Dr Teresa Anderson confirmed a positive case had attended the NSW Olympic Park vaccination hub, but it had remained open.
“The centre has been thoroughly cleaned and NSW Health is contacting casual and close contacts,” said Dr Anderson. “You must not attend if you have any symptoms, however mild.”
On Thursday, Dr Chant also confirmed two passengers who travelled on a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney last Saturday had tested positive after initially testing negative.
The VA524 flight on Saturday afternoon was the same flight on which a flight attendant travelled while positive. Dr Chant said both passengers had been tested promptly after learning they were a close contact and had remained in isolation after testing negative on the initial test.
“Again, this highlights the importance of us being able to find people very quickly, get them tested... and also the importance of maintaining that isolation when you have been asked to do so,” she said.
“If you have been asked to isolate because you are a close contact of a confirmed case, you must not attend the vaccination centre. If you are casual contact of a confirmed case, you must have a negative COVID-19 swab result before attending the centre for a vaccination.”
NSW Health announced a number of new exposure venues yesterday including several shops and food outlets in suburbs of Burwood, Lidcombe, Hurstville, Petersham and Leichhardt.
A pool in Maroubra is also on the close contacts list, while a Bossley Park club has updated advice.
There have been 195 locally acquired cases reported since June 16 when the first case of the Bondi cluster, a driver who transported international flight crew, was reported. Of these, 175 are now linked to the Bondi cluster.
A NSW Police superintendent is one of the latest people to be fined for not wearing a face mask, after the officer was caught breaching the rules inside a fast food outlet. In total, 65 infringement notices were issued on Wednesday for breaching health orders, and of those 52 were $200 fines for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
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Lucy Carroll is a reporter covering health for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Lucy Cormack is a state political reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2021-07-01 08:27:03Z
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