NSW has recorded its first locally-acquired coronavirus case in more than 20 days.
The state’s Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday confirmed that a woman who worked at two Sydney hotels, including a quarantine hotel for returned travellers, had tested positive.
NSW Health says the source of the infection is still under investigation, with urgent genomic sequencing underway to determine if it was acquired in the community or at the hotel quarantine facility.
“We’ve always said this worldwide pandemic was going to be a rollercoaster for a while,” Mr Hazzard told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.
“The good news is that her five family members were tested overnight and they were all negative.”
NSW Health says the woman worked at the Novotel hotel in Darling Harbour on 28 – 30 November, and the Ibis hotel, also in Darling Harbour, on 27 November. Other staff who worked while she was potentially infectious are being asked to get tested and self-isolate pending further advice.
She also travelled from Minto to central station, and on the light rail from central station to Darling Harbour, on a number of occasions while she was potentially infectious.
NSW Health will be asking people who travelled on the same services to immediately get tested and self-isolate, with the route and line details to be provided later on Thursday.
“We’ll do all that tracking and tracing as we’ve done so well in NSW,” Mr Hazzard told Sunrise.
“NSW has taken a very open policy right along and we have fantastic public health team that manages these things extremely well.”
Mr Hazzard doubts this case will halt the state’s easing of restrictions.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
