COVID NSW: New local case in hotel quarantine

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says a new community transmission case of COVID could be the “missing link” to a security guard’s infection.

A new community transmission case of COVID-19 has been discovered inside a Sydney quarantine hotel overnight.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the new case this morning and said it could be the “missing link” health authorities need.

She said the person was a returned international traveller but did not pose a risk to the community.

“Health believes they acquired it after they went into the hotel so we are being upfront about that. They didn’t have the virus when they came to the hotel,” she said.

The Sofitel Wentworth. Picture: John Grainger

“It is only fair for us to classify this as community transmission although obviously, they’re in quarantine and not in the community.

“The threat to the community is negligible because they haven’t been out anywhere.”

A 47-year-old security guard who worked in two Sydney quarantine hotels tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

Health officials confirmed yesterday that all people who were on level 11 of the Sofitel were re-tested as they were considered a close contact of the guard.

The quarantine period for people on the same floor of the hotel has been extended until March 23, 14 days after the infectious traveller was transferred to a NSW health hotel.