Churchgoer, hospital emergency worker among new coronavirus cases in NSW

A healthcare worker at a northern Sydney hospital, a Bunnings employee and a person who attended two church masses are among 10 new COVID-9 infections in NSW.

A pedestrian is seen wearing a face mask at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

A pedestrian is seen wearing a face mask at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Source: AAP

NSW Health is advising people who attended two Sydney church services to be on alert for symptoms of COVID-19 after an infectious person attended mass.

One of the state's newly-reported cases was infectious but without symptoms when they attended early mass from 6.30-7am at St Agatha's in Pennant Hills on both 5 and 6 August, health authorities said in a media release on Sunday.

People who were at the church at these times are urged to watch out for any symptoms of COVID19, and if they occur, to immediately self-isolate and seek testing.

The church has been closed for cleaning.
NSW health authorities are also chasing people who attended the Hornsby Hospital on 6 August from 11am to midnight when a healthcare worker worked a full shift in the facility's emergency department while infectious.

The staffer, who was wearing a mask at all times while in contact with patients, was asymptomatic at the time but became unwell after their shift.

Staff in contact with the worker have been identified and told to self-isolate for 14 days.

Authorities are also advising people who visited the PharmaSave Cherrybrook Pharmacy, in Appletree Shopping Centre, from 4pm to 7pm on 6 August to be alert for symptoms of COVID-19.

One of the state's new cases worked at the premises prior to the onset of symptoms and was wearing a mask during the shift.
The state reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday from 31,681 tests, with just one case in hotel quarantine.

Two cases remain under investigation, NSW Health said in a statement on Sunday.

NSW residents are now largely confined to their own state after Queensland closed its border, following similar moves by Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

NSW has ramped up its own travel restrictions and is forcing residents returning from coronavirus-hit Victoria into two weeks of hotel quarantine.

Entry to NSW from Victoria is now restricted to flights landing at Sydney Airport, except for border community residents with permits.
Motorists are seen approaching a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border.
Motorists are seen approaching a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border. Source: AAP
Meanwhile, a second student at Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook has come down with COVID-19, with all students from years seven to 12 sent into two weeks of self-isolation. The secondary campus will remain closed until 21 August.

Another confirmed virus case on Sunday is a household contact of a Tangara student.

Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta on Saturday night also confirmed a schoolgirl had contracted COVID-19, with deep cleaning and contact tracing now underway.

NSW Health has issued advice to shoppers who attended Bunnings in Campbelltown in Sydney's west on 4, 5 AMD 6 August to be alert to COVID-19 symptoms after an employee tested positive. The worker wore a mask during their shifts.
NSW recorded nine new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday - the lowest number in two weeks - but Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday warned against complacency.

"No matter how tough, well-organised and well-resourced we are, we rely on all citizens doing the right thing, all of the time," she wrote in an open letter published in The Sunday Telegraph.

"It is sadly no exaggeration to say that when it comes to COVID, complacency could literally be the difference between life and death. Just one person can put the entire state in jeopardy."
There are currently 111 COVID-19 cases connected to the Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster, 59 to the funeral events cluster and 34 linked to the Potts Point cluster.

Eight patients are currently in intensive care in NSW, with six on ventilators.

"While most cases in the past week have been associated with local clusters and close contacts with known cases, 11 cases have not been linked to known cases, indicating COVID-19 is circulating in the community," NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said in a statement.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’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. News and information is available in 63 languages at 


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4 min read
Published 9 August 2020 4:54pm
Updated 9 August 2020 9:51pm
Source: AAP, SBS


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