NSW has recorded four new local COVID-19 cases, including a man in his 40s who sought medical treatment at a western Sydney hospital emergency department and was duly diagnosed with the virus.
Three new locally-acquired cases were recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, all three of which connected to the 26-person Berala cluster.
Another case was confirmed after the 8pm cut-off – a man who presented at Mount Druitt Hospital on Saturday with respiratory illness.
He was subsequently confirmed positive and transferred to Westmead Hospital for treatment, while Mount Druitt Hospital’s emergency department has been deep cleaned and will reopen later on Monday.
“Investigations are underway to assess potential close contacts, including staff and patients,” Western Sydney Local Health District said in a statement.
“Anyone determined to be at risk of possible exposure is being contacted by the Public Health Unit and health advice provided.”
The potential exposure incident comes as NSW continues to “mop up” from two outbreaks in Greater Sydney.
The 24-hour tally of three positive people came from more than 18,500 tests, prompting fresh calls from NSW authorities for an uptick in testing.
“NSW under the circumstances is doing relatively well but we are in the phase of mopping up, we are in the phase of really trying to identify any community transmission,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
“(We want) to make sure that any chains which exist in the community which we hadn’t picked up before have been and are being picked up.
“The case regarding the patient at Mount Druitt emergency department is still under investigation, so there’s no direct link yet.”
Thousands of residents from the northern part of Sydney’s Northern Beaches celebrated “Freedom Day” on Sunday, having been let out of lockdown.
A number of new venues, including the Costco in Casula and Myer in Bankstown, have also been declared potential exposure sites.
Late on Sunday, NSW Health also issued a health alert for Bankstown Central Shopping Centre over two separate days, as well as a Service NSW site in Bankstown and a Thai supermarket at Marrickville.
Anyone who visited these venues at specific times must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
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.
