Sydney on alert as more exposure sites added after hotel quarantine worker tests positive to COVID-19
ASSA
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2021-03-15 09:33:13
Sydney is on alert this morning after a
number of new exposure sites including two public transport routes were added to the list of places visited by an infectious case of
COVID-19.
After almost two months of remaining virus-free, Sydney is on the brink of a possible outbreak following a serious breach at one of the city's quarantine hotels.
A security guard has tested positive for the virus, despite having already had his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine before moving around the community.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said authorities were notified of the locally acquired case late on Saturday night and urgent contact tracing and genome sequencing was underway.
The 47-year-old man works in security at two quarantine hotels, the Sofitel Hotel in Wentworth and the Mantra Hotel in Haymarket.
Mr Hazzard said he had worked while infectious.
The guard attended several venues during that time, with anyone who attended the Pancakes On The Rocks at Beverly Hills on March 13 between 10.45 am to 12pm now considered a close contact.
People who visited the venue at that time has been ordered to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of a negative test result.
The case also visited Bexley Aquatics Centre on Saturday March 13 from 9am 9.30am; and a train from Hurstville to the city arriving at 6.30pm on Friday, March 12.
He also visited a coffee shop in the Hurstville Private Hospital on multiple occasions between March 8 and March 12 last week.
Two public transport routes have also been put on alert after the case travelled on the T4 Hurstville to Central line on Friday March 12 and Saturday March 13.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said he was possibly infected by a returned traveller at the Sofitel last week, but authorities were keeping "an open mind".
Dr Chant said he received the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine on March 2 but it could take up to 14 days to impact his immune system.
Anyone who was a customer at the following venues at the listed times should monitor for symptoms:
- Bexley - Aquatic Centre on Saturday March 13 between 9am to 9.30am
- Haymarket - Dae Jang Kum Korean restaurant on Saturday March 13 between 12.15am to 12.25am;
- Haymarket - 7 Eleven on Saturday March 13 between 12.20am to 12.25am;
- Hurstville - Hudson's Coffee shop, Hurstville Private Hospital on Monday March 8 between 8.30am to 9am; Tuesday March 9 between 8.30am to 9am; Wednesday March 10 between 8pm and 9pm; Thursday March 11 between 8.30am and 9am and Friday March 12 between 8.30am and 9am
- Hurstville Station - Coles on Wednesday March 10 between 8pm to 9pm
Anyone who travelled on the following train services during the below times should also monitor for symptoms:
- T4 line, Hurstville to Central - Friday March 12 departing 6pm Hurstville and arriving Central 6.30pm.
- T4 line, Central to Hurstville - Saturday March 13 departing Central at 7am and driving Hurstville at 7.30am.
All of of the security guard's family members have returned negative COVID-19 test results.
"We have contacted around 130 people who worked from 7pm on Friday night to 7am on Saturday, overlapping March 12 to March 13," Dr Chant said.
"We are asking those individuals to immediately self-isolate and get a test ... that allows us time to work through and ascertain the nature of interaction that this security guard would have had to those quarantine workers."
NSW Police said in a statement it continues to review and monitor processes in quarantine and provides extensive support to ensure all infection control is in place.
