A non-clinical staff member at Sydney’s Waratah Private Hospital is one of 44 new COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW today.
In a statement, NSW Health confirmed the state had recorded 44 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19, with 35 linked to a known case or cluster in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
“One new case to 8pm last night is a non-clinical staff member at Waratah Private Hospital in Hurstville who worked for two days while infectious, on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 July,” the health authority said.
“Urgent investigations and contact tracing are under way. All affected patients still in hospital are isolating at the hospital in single rooms. All patients have tested negative to date.”
“Staff are wearing full PPE while caring for these patients. Other close contacts, including patients who have been discharged, are being contacted.”
Due to the current stay-at-home order, NSW Health said there were no visitors to the hospital during the exposure period other than those given exemptions to attend for end-of-life visits.
“Additionally, NSW Health is undertaking contact tracing for all businesses who use the hospital building to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the non-clinical staff member with COVID-19,” it said.
NSW Health said 25 of the state’s new cases were household contacts and 10 were close contacts of confirmed cases – while the source of infection for nine cases remains under investigation.
“Ten cases were in isolation throughout their infectious periods and eight cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Nineteen cases were infectious in the community and seven cases remain under investigation.”
One new overseas-acquired case was recorded in the last 24 hours.
“There are now 285 cases directly linked to known cases in the Bondi cluster. There are 37 cases that have not been directly linked to a known case or cluster, with a further 117 who are linked to these 37 unlinked cases.”
There are currently 43 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 10 people in intensive care, four of whom require ventilation.
Of the 44 new infections, 21 are from south-west Sydney, eight are from south-east Sydney and seven are from western Sydney.
“Transmission in these areas continues to be of great concern,” NSW Health said.
“Four further cases have been recorded to 8pm last night linked to a gathering at the Meriton Suites Waterloo on Saturday 26 June. These cases were contacts of people who attended the gathering and bring the total number of cases linked to this venue to 25.
One new case is linked to IKEA in Tempe on 6 July. Anyone who attended IKEA Tempe on 6 July from 10am – 9pm is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health. There are about 2,000 close contacts now linked to this exposure.
NSW Health has also issued a list of new venues of concern. Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health:
Suburb | Venue | Address | Date and time |
---|---|---|---|
Burwood | Kathmandu Burwood | Shop 353/100 Burwood Rd | Sunday 4 July 12:35pm – 1pm |
Burwood | Mehfil North Indian Cuisine, Westfield Burwood Shopping Centre | 100 Burwood Rd Burwood | Sunday 4 July 1:05pm – 1:10pm |
Wetherill Park | Beds R Us Wetherill Park | Greenway Plaza & Homemaker Greenway, Unit 70/71/1183 The Horsley Dr Wetherill Park | Monday 5 July 2:30pm – 3:15pm |
Smithfield | Oregano’s Lebanese Bakery and Cafe | 1/693 The Horsley Dr Smithfield | Monday 5 July 2pm – 2:30pm |
Merrylands | Sadaqat Supermarket | 6 Memorial Ave Merrylands | Monday 5 July 1:30pm – 2pm |
Merrylands | Australia Post Office Merrylands | 12 Memorial Ave Merrylands | Monday 5 July 2pm – 3pm |
Merrylands | Aldi Merrylands | 191-201 Pitt St Merrylands | Monday 5 July 1:30pm – 3:30pm |
Merrylands | Kmart Merrylands | 1 McFarlane St Merrylands | Monday 5 July 1:30pm – 3:30pm |
Auburn | Auburn Fresh City Fruit & Vegetables | 67-69 Auburn Road | Monday 5 July 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
Auburn | Sahar Market | 1/62 Auburn Road | Monday 5 July 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
Auburn | New Star Kebabs | 15 Auburn Rd Auburn | Monday 5 July 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
Anyone who lives or works in or around these areas is asked to be particularly vigilant for any symptoms that could signal COVID-19, and if they appear, immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has also detected traces of the virus that causes COVID-19 at a number of locations around Sydney.
“The detection at Boronia Park, Bateau Bay and Port Kembla sewage treatment plant is of particular concern. While these areas have had known cases in recent times we still need the community to be vigilant,” it said.
The Boronia Park catchment covers about 120,000 people in suburbs including Melrose Park, Camellia, Northmead, Constitution Hill, North Parramatta, Telopea, Denistone, Denistone West, Dundas Valley, Dundas, Carlingford, Oatlands, North Rocks, Ermington, Parramatta, Baulkham Hills, Rydalmere, Winston Hills, Woolwich, Huntleys Point, Huntleys Cove, Henley, East Ryde, Meadowbank, Gladesville, Tennyson Point, Putney, Hunters Hill, Denistone East, Ryde, Eastwood, West Ryde.
The Bateau Bay catchment covers about 39,000 people in suburbs including Bateau Bay, Blue Bay, Killarney Vale, Long Jetty, Shelly Beach, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay.
The Port Kembla catchment covers about 49,000 people in suburbs including Windang, Lake Heights, Cringila, Warrawong, Koonawarra, Brownsville, Dapto, Berkeley, Kanahooka, Horsley, Avondale, Cleveland, Unanderra, Kembla Grange, Primbee, Port Kembla.
Anyone who lives or works in or around these areas is asked to be particularly vigilant for any symptoms that could signal COVID-19, and if they appear, immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.