Two cases of COVID-19 – a newly diagnosed Blue Mountains man and a recently diagnosed woman from South Western Sydney were at the Crossroads Hotel Casula – when they may have been infected.
Both cases, who are not otherwise linked, visited the Crossroads Hotel on Friday 3 July in the evening.
The Hotel has been closed for deep cleaning while contacts are traced.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is urging anyone who visited the Crossroads Hotel on the evening of Friday 3 July to self-isolate, monitor for symptoms and come forward for testing immediately should they develop even the mildest of symptoms.
NSW Health is currently working with the hotel owners to immediately identify and contact people who were at the hotel that evening.
A pop-up clinic will be operational in the carpark of the hotel from 5pm tonight.
Testing is also available in .
The second newly confirmed case is in a traveller from Victoria. The man drove from Melbourne and entered NSW on 7 July, and has reported minimal contact with anyone in NSW apart from his partner and two friends. The man subsequently tested positive and is in hotel isolation and the three contacts are in quarantine. His partner has tested negative.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is urging the community to be extra vigilant at this critical point in the state’s response to COVID-19 following the closure of the Victorian border on Wednesday.
“I cannot stress enough the need for people for everyone who have recently been in Victoria to come forward for testing if they have COVID-19 symptoms, however minimal. We have capacity to test anyone with even the mildest of symptoms and this is the greatest weapon we have to stop a second wave,” Dr Chant said.
Dr Chant said these cases emphasise the importance of being tested in the earliest stages of symptom onset or if you have recently been in a high-risk area.
“Please be aware mild symptoms such as a scratchy throat, cough or runny nose can be early indicators of infection”.
We all need to keep our distance from others. Stay at least 1.5 m away from other people. This is especially important for anyone who has been in Victoria in the past two weeks who should be particularly careful to avoid others while in NSW.
“Now is not the time for complacency and we have testing capacity across the state to ensure thousands of residents every day can be swabbed quickly to prevent any further transmission” Dr Chant said.
People who work in high-risk settings such as health care facilities or aged care homes must not to attend work if they have symptoms and get tested immediately. People should also not visit relatives in these settings if they have even the mildest of symptoms or have recently returned from Victoria.
Anyone who recently entered NSW from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days, closely monitor for symptoms, and come forward to be tested if feeling unwell.
Additional testing clinics have also been set up in border areas and traveller areas of high demand.
Increase in demand for testing is specifically expected at Victorian traveller locations (i.e. Byron Bay, Ballina, Merimbula & NSW Ski fields), Victorian border locations (Albury) & Newcastle
Please refer to below locations for available COVID-19 testing services in these locations:
- 4 locations for the public to get tested in the Tweed LGA – 1 LHD clinic in Tweed, 1 GP Respiratory Clinic in Murwillumbah, 2 Private pathology providers – Banora Point & Murwillumbah Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology
- 4 Locations for the public to get tested in the Byron/Ballina LGAs – 1 LHD clinic in Byron, 1 GP Respiratory Clinic in Ballina, 2 Private pathology providers – Ballina & Byron Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology
- 5 Locations for the public to get tested in the Coffs Harbour LGA – 2 LHD clinics in Coffs Harbour & Woolgoolga Pop-Up, 3 Private pathology providers – Laverty Pathology Coffs Harbour, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology in Coffs Harbour & Woolgoolga
- 7 locations for the public to get tested in the Snowy Monaro & Snowy Valley LGAs – 4 LHD Clinics – Jindabyne, Cooma, Bombala & Tumut. 1 GP Respiratory Clinic – Tumut. 2 Private Pathology providers – Jindabyne & Cooma Capital Pathology. There is also a Public Health Physician based at the NSW Ski Fields.
- 6 locations for the public to get tested in the Bega Valley LGA – 3 LHD clinics (Bega Valley Drive-Through, Pambula ED & Merimbula Sapphire Club Drive-through), 2 GP Respiratory Clinics (Bega & Eden) & 1 private pathology provider (Bega)
Victorian Border COVID-19 Testing Locations (NSW Health & Vic Health)
- 6 locations for the public to get tested in NSW on or close to the Victorian Border – FWLHD (Balranald Multi-Purpose Service drive-through clinic), MLHD (Deniliquin Respiratory Clinic, Albury Pop-Up Clinic) SNSWLHD (Bombala Multi-Purpose Service, Jindabyne Drive-through clinic, Katungul Mobile GP Respiratory Clinic in Eden)
- 10 locations for the public to get tested in Victoria on or close to the NSW Border – 6 Victorian Health clinics (Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla, Kyabram, Echuca & Kerang) & 4 GP Respiratory Clinics (Wodonga, Shepparton, Mildura & Swan Hill)
Newcastle COVID-19 Testing Locations
- 4 locations for the public to get tested in the Newcastle LGA – 3 LHD clinics (Calvary Mater, John Hunter, University of Newcastle Drive though) & 1 private pathology provider (Newcastle 4Cyte pathology)
