11 new COVID-19 cases in NSW as death toll spikes
A four-year-old who attended a western Sydney childcare centre while infected is among the 11 new cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW overnight. It comes as the state’s death toll rose to 41 with Premier Gladys Berejiklian issuing a new warning.
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A four-year-old child who attended a Sydney childcare centre for two days while infectious is among 11 new cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW in the last 24 hours.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said the child attended the Bright Minds Academy in Cranebrook for two days while infectious and parents with children at the centre are being urged to contact management.
It is not known how the child contracted the virus.
“The centre is now closed while further investigations and cleaning is undertaken and I would urge parents to keep in contact with that centre,” Dr Chant said.
Other cases overnight included two staff members from the Newmarch facility in Caddens where 11 deaths have now been recorded after five residents died in the past 24 hours.
The latest fatalities have pushed the state’s death toll from coronavirus up to 41.
The new cases of COVID-19 recorded in NSW on Wednesday take the state’s total to 3016, with 17 people in intensive care.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned people against taking advantage of easing restrictions this week, especially when visiting elderly relatives, saying regulations would be reinstated if people broke the rules.
CALLS TO REMAIN VIGILANT
Ms Berejiklian has called on more people to come forward for testing for COVID-19 as the government works to boost testing rates to 8000 a day.
Anyone with even the mildest symptoms or those who work with vulnerable groups should come forward for testing, she said.
Ms Berejiklian also issued a firm warning to people about the lifting of restrictions around visitations – reminding people they cannot leave the house unless it is for work or school, buying essential items, caring for others or medical needs.
“This does not give you a licence to go beyond the rules,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The fact you can visit someone’s household is an extension of the definition of care.”
It comes after the government on Tuesday relaxed some of the rules around visitations with two adults – and children – allowed to visit vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with mental illness.
While there are no restrictions on how far people could travel for visits, Ms Berejiklian reminded people to be prudent, saying “this is not a holiday”.
NEWMARCH COMMUNICATION CONCERNS
Ms Berejiklian has escalated concerns about a “lack of communication” between residents at the Newmarch aged care home at the centre of a deadly outbreak to the Federal Government, in a damning indictment of management at the centre.
Eleven residents of the Anglicare-run facility in western Sydney have now died, including five in just over 24 hours.
Some 34 residents and 22 staff members have tested positive to COVID-19
Three women – aged 91, 90, and 89 – and another resident aged 93 died yesterday, chief health officer Kerry Chant said.
Ms Berejiklian said the Health Minister Brad Hazzard last night flagged serious concerns about management’s poor communication with families of those residing at the infected home to Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck.
“I can’t imagine how distressing that is … It would be devastating not to be able to contact them. We’ve made our concerns known to the federal minister,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who succumbed to the disease and the families who are really worried about their loved ones.”
TRANSPORT CLEANING BLITZ
Hundreds of cleaners have been deployed across the state’s vital public infrastructure including schools TAFE and transport in a major cleaning blitz aimed at delivering new jobs.
Ms Berejiklian has announced the government will spent $250 million to create more than 550 cleaning jobs across the state.
The move will see the equivalent of 3,000 full-time cleaners on board by the end of June.
The cleaners will blitz public infrastructure in a bid to combat COVID-19 – scrubbing through public transport including buses and trains and education facilities.