Coronavirus NSW: Two new COVID-19 cases, Riverview source investigated
NSW Health officials are trying to determine how a student at an elite North Shore college was infected with COVID-19. The boy is one of two people diagnosed with the virus in the past day.
NSW
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Health officials in NSW are trying to determine how a St Ignatius College Riverview student was infected with COVID-19 following the closure of the North Shore private school for cleaning.
The school confirmed the case in a letter to parents on Wednesday afternoon and said all boarding students would return to their accommodation on campus while arrangements were made for day students to leave the property.
“We wish to advise you that the Senior Campus of Saint Ignatius’ College has been informed by NSW Health that a student has tested positive for COVID-19,” the letter from Principal Paul Hine said.
“Staff and students who are identified as close contacts will be contacted and advised they should self-isolate for the required period of time,” the letter said.
“A close assessment of the circumstances reveal that the student concerned is not in boarding, nor has had any contact with the Regis Campus. The Boarding Houses will remain open.
“The school will be non-operational to the onsite attendance of staff and students while the school conducts contact tracing and is cleaned. We anticipate this will be for no more than 48 hours.”
NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said on Thursday that several staff, students, friends and family members of the boy have been identified as close contacts and are now quarantining/
“The source of the infection is unclear,” Dr Chant said.
“The young student only went to school for a short period of time, one-and-a-half days. As soon as he developed symptoms he was sent home which is exactly what we want to happen”.
Dr Chant said that given the child’s “short presence” at the school, it’s unlikely he was exposed on campus but officials are keeping an “open mind.”
The Riverview case comes just days before NSW public school students return to school full time on May 25.
NSW recorded just two new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours until Thursday morning, including the student and a person who travelled to Sydney from Melbourne.
9700 people were tested for the virus in the past day and a total of 3082 cases have been confirmed in the state since the virus broke out in Australia.