The latest: Covid-19 NSW Public Health Alert

NSW Health update, issued 11am, February 10, 2021

NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Four new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,940.

There were 18,885 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 7,315.

Today is the 24th day in a row with no reported locally acquired cases in NSW.

Testing rates have risen in the past 24 hours, and it is important we maintain this. High testing rates are vital to giving us the best chance of finding any new cases and preventing new chains of transmission from becoming established in the community.

Investigations continue into the source of infection of a returned overseas traveller from the Wollongong area who tested positive for COVID-19 after being released from hotel quarantine.

Genomic testing results indicate this case is not related to any other cases in hotel quarantine at the same time.

Further investigations are necessary to determine the source of the case, including the possibility it is an old infection from overseas. Some tests need to be taken over several days, and further information will be released as it becomes available.

NSW Health thanks the people of Wollongong and surrounding areas for coming forward for testing in recent days. There has been no transmission associated with this case to date, including among their close contacts, who have all tested negative.

NSW Health has updated its advice for people in NSW who were at the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn quarantine hotel recently, following the diagnosis on Tuesday of two more cases in the hotel.

Anyone who worked or stayed on any floor of the hotel between 27 January and 9 February is now considered a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result. The previous advice was that only people who had been on the third floor were close contacts.

NSW Health is continuing to screen passengers arriving on flights from Victoria and any person who enters NSW from Victoria by air or rail is required to complete a passenger declaration form. The Holiday Inn has been added to the list of high-risk locations for screening of these passengers.

People who have been to any of the public exposure sites listed on the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website during the relevant times must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days since being there, regardless of the result. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/case-locations-and-outbreaks...

There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../how-to-protect.../clinics or contact your GP.

NSW Health is treating 37 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (97 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.

NSW Public Health Alert, issued Monday night, February 8, 2021

NSW Health has updated its advice for people who attended two previously announced venues in the Wollongong area.

As reported Sunday, a confirmed case of COVID-19 visited these venues after they were released from hotel quarantine and before they were notified of a positive result from their day-16 test.

Anyone who was in the beer garden of the Headlands Hotel or who dined in at the Bulli Beach Café at the times listed below is now considered a close contact and should immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:

- Austinmer, Headlands Hotel (Beer garden), Headland Avenue and Yuruga Street: Tuesday 2 February, 1pm – 3pm

- Bulli, Bulli Beach Café (those who dined in), 68 Trinity Row: Saturday 6 February, 1.30pm – 4pm

Anyone who was at the Headlands Hotel (in all areas other than the beer garden) and anyone who got takeaway from the Bulli Beach Café at the times listed below is now considered a casual contact who should monitor for symptoms. If any symptoms develop, get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result:

- Austinmer, Headlands Hotel (all areas other than the beer garden), Headland Avenue and Yuruga Street: Tuesday 2 February, 1pm – 3pm

- Bulli, Bulli Beach Café (those who got takeaway), 68 Trinity Row: Saturday 6 February, 1.30pm – 4pm

There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../how-to-protect.../clinics or contact your GP.

NSW Health continues to urge anyone in NSW with even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until they receive a negative result.

A complete list of venues of concern, and the related health advice is available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

NSW Public Health Alert, issued Sunday, February 7, 2021

NSW Health is carrying out precautionary public health follow-up in relation to a returned overseas traveller who tested positive to COVID-19 on day 16 after being released from hotel quarantine on day 14.

The person from the Wollongong area returned two negative tests during their quarantine period.

The person did not have any symptoms but underwent testing as part of the recently enhanced day-16 follow-up. As an additional precautionary measure, NSW Health has introduced symptom checking and day-16 COVID-19 tests for overseas travellers who have been released from hotel quarantine.

Test results indicate that the person has a low level of infection and their household contacts have returned negative results to date.

Investigations to date suggest the infection was likely acquired overseas and there is no indication at this stage that there was transmission in the hotel quarantine setting.

Close contacts of the case not associated with venues have been identified and are already in self isolation.

The person visited a number of venues in Wollongong and surrounding areas, as well as a café in Brighton Le Sands in south-eastern Sydney, before they were notified of the positive result from their day-16 test.

The website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates will be updated with these case locations shortly:

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should immediately get tested and self-isolate until further advice from NSW Health:

Austinmer - Headlands Hotel, Headland Avenue and Yuruga Street - Tuesday 2 February, 1pm – 3pm.

Bulli - Bulli Beach Café, 68 Trinity Row - Saturday 6 February, 1.30pm – 4pm.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below is a casual contact who must get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If any symptoms appear, get tested again.

Brighton Le Sands - Mootch & Me, 313 Bay Street - Tuesday 2 February, 10.54am – 12pm.

North Wollongong - Optus, 17 Flinders Street - Thursday 4 February, 1pm – 1.15pm.

Fairy Meadow - Officeworks, 145 Princes Highway - Thursday 4 February, 3.45pm – 4.05pm & Friday 5 February, 2:10pm – 3pm.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should monitor for symptoms. If symptoms appear, please get tested:

Bulli - Woolworths, 5-9 Molloy Street - Wednesday 3 February, 9:50am-10:50am.

Corrimal - Corrimal Memorial Park, Wilga Street, Corrimal - Wednesday 3 February, 12pm – 1pm.

Thirroul - Thirroul Beach - Wednesday 3 February, 3pm – 4:30pm.

Madden Plains - Sublime Point Walking Track, 661 Princes Highway - Thursday 4 February, 8.30am – 10am.

Figtree - Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, 19 Princes Highway, in particular these stores:

• Australia Post

• Kmart

• Blooms The Chemist

• Subway

Thursday 4 February, 2pm – 3.30pm.

Fairy Meadow - Fedora Pasta Factory, 10 Daisy Street - Friday 5 February, 3.30pm – 3.35pm.

There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../how-to-protect.../clinics or contact your GP.

NSW Health continues to urge anyone in NSW with even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until they receive a negative result.

A complete list of venues of concern, and the related health advice, is available on NSW Government - Latest news and updates: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates