NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses media as she gives a COVID-19 update at NSW Parliament House in Sydney in September.
Doctors, disability worker among new NSW COVID-19 cases
October 13, 2020
The COVID-19 clusters in southwest Sydney continue to grow with five of seven new locally acquired infections coming from the same household.
There are seven new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 in NSW, and a childcare centre in southwest Sydney has been closed after an infected person recently attended the premises.
NSW Health said the new cases were recorded from 8609 tests reported to 8pm on Monday night, compared with 7391 in the previous 24 hours.
It also reported another six COVID-19 cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
Two new locally acquired cases, that were already announced on Monday, are doctors who worked at the A2Z Medical Clinic in Lakemba in southwest Sydney and are linked to a previously reported case of unknown source.
NSW Health said on Tuesday those cases had no known links to other clusters.
The remaining five new locally acquired cases were members of the same household in southwestern Sydney and are now part of the ongoing investigation into four previously reported unlinked cases, including a nurse from St Vincent’s Hospital.
NSW Health said one of the new cases was a disability support worker who had worked at three small group homes in southwestern Sydney. Contact tracing and investigations with seven clients and their staff was underway.
Another one of these new cases attended the Great Beginnings Oran Park childcare centre on 1, 2, 8 and 9 October while infectious.
The centre is closed and contact tracing is underway.
A recent drop in testing numbers remains a concern for authorities who are urging anyone with symptoms, particularly in west and southwest Sydney, to get tested.
Earlier a health alert was issued for anyone who was at takeaway food shop Ali Dine Inn and Take Away Lakemba last Friday between 7:30pm and 8:30pm.
Anyone who attended the A2Z medical centre between 25 and 28 September should also be tested immediately, but as the full 14 days since exposure has elapsed they don’t need to isolate if they test negative.
An infected patient also attended the ISRA medical practice in Lakemba, and anyone who attended between 5 October at 6pm to 6 October at 6am is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms develop and must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received.
NSW Health has established a pop-up clinic at Lakemba to deal with the cluster.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
SBS
