Ben Franklin in isolation after dining at Covid hotspot in Sydney

A Northern Rivers politician is in isolation after he had dinner at a venue that has since been declared a hotspot. One of his dining companions has since tested positive.

NSW MLC Ben Franklin is in isolation after dining at a venue that has since been declared a hotspot. Picture: Liana Boss

Northern Rivers politician Ben Franklin was in isolation after being potentially exposed to Covid-19 while dining with Nationals colleagues at a Sydney restaurant on Monday night.

Mr Franklin, a Member of the NSW Legislative Council based on the Northern Rivers, was in Sydney for the State Budget.

One of Mr Franklin’s dinner companions at Paddington’s Christo’s Pizzeria, NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, was advised this morning that he had tested positive to COVID-19.

Yesterday, Mr Franklin said: “Last night I received a text from NSW Health alerting me to the fact that I’d been at a venue the previous evening at the same time as a person who’d tested positive for COVID-19.

“I got tested first thing this morning and am now in isolation for the next 14 days in Sydney (where I am at the moment as it is a parliamentary sitting week.)”

Mr Franklin said his Covid test was negative, but will undergo more tests on June 28 and July 3 while in isolation until July 6.

Two other Nationals colleagues, Trevor Khan and Steph Cooke were also in isolation after the dinner.

Mr Franklin praised contact tracing, that alerted him within 24 hours of his possible exposure, and offered clear instructions about what he needed to do.

Mr Franklin urged everyone to keep checking in using the QR codes.

Meanwhile, restrictions have been placed on who can enter NSW Parliament House after Mr Marshall’s positive test.

Mr Marshall, the member for the Northern Tablelands had been in parliament on Tuesday to discuss the Budget.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard was also in isolation, revealing he was a close contact.

Mr Hazzard told the ABC on Thursday morning that he was asymptomatic but isolating at home as a precaution after being notified about the potential exposure.

Mr Hazzard, who stood next to Premier Gladys Berejiklian at a press conference yesterday, said he didn’t believe the premier was exposed to the virus.

“I think the premier is fairly safe,” he said, emphasising that he is “just being careful and taking health advice.”

On Facebook, Mr Franklin was welcoming all “Netflix recommendations, care packages, enthralling novels and spare Lego sets”.