NSW records five new locally acquired coronavirus cases as Oran Park cluster expands

NSW Health says now is not the time to delay testing.

NSW has recorded seven new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours, two of which are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

The five locally acquired infections are all linked to known clusters or previous cases.

Three are from a family linked to the Greater Beginnings Childcare Centre in Oran Park and one is an educator who works there.

The Oran Park cluster has now reached 18 cases.

The fifth locally acquired new case is a student who attends Oran Park High School where staff and students have been asked to self isolate.

NSW Health says contact tracing is underway at the school and the campus will be cleaned over the weekend.

This student is a close contact of a previous case linked to the Liverpool private clinic cluster, which now totals 11 cases.

One of today’s new cases has triggered a health warning for the Woolworths in Oran Park.

Anyone who visited the store on October 2 from 7.00pm to 7.30pm is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop.

There were 14,378 people tested in NSW in the 24 hours to 8.00pm yesterday.

Stephen Corbett from NSW Health has continued to call for more testing over the weekend, reminding people there is no limits on how many times you can get tested.

“Everyone plays an important role in helping to contain the pandemic by getting tested quickly and following social distancing rules,” Dr Corbett said.

“Get tested on the day you get symptoms, don’t wait to see if they go away.

“Assume it’s COVID-19 until it’s proven otherwise by a test.”

Source: ABC