NSW Health has released a list of exposure sites after a quarantine worker tested positive in NSW, ending its 55-day streak of no new locally-acquired COVID cases.
The male security worker was employed at two quarantine hotels in Sydney, the Sofitel Wentworth and Mantra Haymarket.
NSW Health was notified late last night of a new case of COVID-19 in a person who works at two Sydney hotels which provide hotel quarantine for returned travellers. This case will be included in tomorrow’s numbers. pic.twitter.com/seNuUfBHBD
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 14, 2021
The 47 year old worked a night shift at the Mantra on Friday and also visited three other locations while infectious.
The exposure sites listed are:
- Hudson’s Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital, March 8, 8.30-9am
- Hudson’s Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital, March 9, 8.30-9am
- Hudson’s Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital, March 10, 8.30-9am
- Coles, Hurstville Station, March 10, 8-9pm
- Hudson’s Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital, March 11, 8.30-9am
- Hudson’s Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital, March 12, 8.30-9am
- Dae Jang Kum Korean Restaurant, Haymarket, March 13, 12.15-12.20am
- 7-Eleven at Capitol Square, George St, Haymarket, March 13, 12.20-12.25am
- Bexley Aquatics Centre, Bexley North, March 13, 9-9.30am
- Pancakes on the Rocks, Beverly Hills, March 13, 10.45am – 12pm
- Train from Hurstville to the city, Match 12, arriving at 6.30pm
- Train from city to Hurstville, March 13, leaving at 7am
The man also has another workplace, and contact tracers are looking into whether any of his colleagues were exposed.
“This gentleman does have another workplace, and we are just looking at that,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
“The advice we have had is generally that person resides in an office-based setting, but we are checking with various key cards and other things to track the movements and identify the potential.”
Earlier this morning Dr Stephen Conaty of NSW Health fronted the media to provide the update and said they are urgently investigating the source through genome sequencing.
WATCH: Dr Stephen Conaty provides a #COVID19 update for Sunday 14 March 2021. pic.twitter.com/ScPPcA0zZi
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 14, 2021
It has been reported that the security worker had received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison (who received his second dose of the vaccine earlier today) told Australians that the effects of the vaccine are not immediate.
“This is an important point, the [effectiveness of the] vaccination is not immediate. I have had my second dose and it does take a while,” Morrison said.
“There are no risk-free responses when you deal with COVID-19, it is unrealistic and naive to think so … there are always vulnerabilities.”
Queensland also ended its lengthy run of no community transmission over the weekend when a doctor from Brisbane’s PA hospital tested positive for COVID on Friday.
