NSW Health confirms Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour a ‘venue of concern’

The Hoey Moey has been officially listed as an exposure site as others named in MP’s list remain open.

The Hoey Moey in Coffs Harbour has been listed by NSW Health as a ‘venue of concern’ after confusion began to grow over whether people at other venues visited by a Covid case should isolate.

Late on Monday night NSW Health announced that anyone who visited the Hoey Moey bottle shop on Thursday July 15 is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

The health district will also establish a drive through Covid-testing clinic at C.ex Stadium in Coffs Harbour from 12pm Tuesday to deal with the dramatic increase in residents seeking to get tested.

Earlier in the day patrons who visited the pub began receiving text messages from NSW Health and Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh had then revealed the case had been in Coffs Harbour throughout the week, listing several possible exposure sites on social media.

That sent shockwaves through the community, with the four sites listed including several in busy shopping centre, Park Beach Plaza.

However, by early evening confusion began to emerge with NSW Health not yet listing the pub on their website and patrons who had visited Park Beach Plaza began to wonder why they had not received text messages.

NSW Health released a statement confirming a person tested positive after visiting Coffs Harbour but that they may have only been infectious for “part of the time”.

“A confirmed case of COVID-19 reported in today’s numbers from Sydney visited venues on the Mid North Coast last week, including Coffs Harbour,” Mr Dowrick said.

“The case was last believed to have been in the area on 15 July and may have been infectious for part of the time.

“Some venues have already been identified as potential sites of concern. People known to have been at those places have been contacted by NSW Health and are asked to follow the health advice provided and await further instructions.

“NSW Health does not disclose details about venues unless there is a public health reason.

“Please check the NSW Government website regularly, as the list of venues of concern and relevant health advice are being updated as investigations continue.”

Woolworths and Big W at Park Beach Plaza, two other sites mentioned in Mr Singh’s posts, have not been listed as exposure sites and remained open.

After Park Beach Plaza released a statement indicating the shops in question would be deep cleaned, Woolworths revealed they had been in contact with NSW Health.

“We’ve received information from NSW Health that the customer wasn’t infectious when visiting our Park Beach Plaza store in Coffs Harbour.”

“Since we had already made arrangements for a deep clean, this will go ahead as planned overnight on Monday 19 July.”