A disability care worker is one of five new locally acquired COVID-19 cases identified in NSW.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said the worker had completed shifts in three small group disability homes in south west Sydney while infectious.
Dr Chant said contact tracing with seven clients and their staff at the care homes was currently underway.
“There have been no reports of illness in other staff or residents,” said Dr Chant.
She said all of the five new locally acquired cases announced today were members of the same household.
“They have now been identified as part of the ongoing investigation into four previously reported unlinked cases, including a nurse from St Vincent’s Hospital.”
Another of the new cases attended the Great Beginnings childcare centre at Oran Park on October 1, 2, 8 and 9 while infectious.
“The centre is closed today and contact and investigations are underway,” said Dr Chant.
She said the five new cases provided a link between the previously four unlinked cases that include a nurse from St Vincent’s Hospital, and a previously reported cluster of five people in south western Sydney linked with Liverpool Hospital. This means that 14 people reported since October 8 are now linked.
“Two new locally acquired cases, publicly announced on Monday 12 October, are doctors who worked at the A2Z Medical Clinic and are linked to a previously reported case of unknown source,” NSW Health tweeted.
The Lakemba cases led NSW Health to issue a new alert for residents of Sydney’s southwest on Monday night, as a number of new locations visited by confirmed cases were identified in Lakemba.
Anyone who visited the A2Z clinic between Tuesday, September 29 and Saturday, October 10, or the Ali Dine Inn and Take Away on Haldon St between 7:30pm – 8:30pm on Friday, October 9, needs to be tested immediately, NSW Health said.
A pop-up testing clinic has been opened at the Lakemba Uniting Church.
“At this point, these cases have no known links to other clusters,” said Dr Chant.
Six further cases have also been reported today – all are overseas travellers currently in hotel quarantine, taking today’s case figure to 13.
NSW Health is currently treating 59 COVID-19 cases, including one in intensive care who does not require ventilation.
