Coronavirus NSW: Marsden Park IKEA warehouse worker records positive case
A warehouse worker at a western Sydney IKEA has tested positive to coronavirus but not all colleagues were asked to self isolate unless they showed symptoms.
Blacktown
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A worker at the IKEA Marsden Park distribution centre has tested positive to coronavirus after being linked to Casula’s Crossroads Hotel cluster but the warehouse has remained open.
Western Sydney Health Service’s Public Health Unit director Dr Shopna Bag sent a letter on July 13 informing colleagues that the employee was a confirmed case of COVID-19.
“The staff member was infectious at work on the morning shift on the 6th, 7th and 8th of July 2020,’’ it stated.
The letter said the recipient was not required to self isolate because they were considered a casual contact but should stay at home if they developed symptoms including a sore throat, fever or respiratory problems.
“We ask that you watch out for symptoms for 14 days from the last date the staff member was at work, so until July 22,’’ the letter said.
“If you develop symptoms then we ask that you isolate yourself from the general public and please get tested.’’
Dr Bag said the staff member had no facing interaction with customers and remained in home isolation with daily support from Western Sydney Area Health Service.
“All close contacts have been identified, contacted and are in home isolation.’’
Dr Bag said the public health team’s thorough investigation determined the distribution’s centre closure was not required.
An IKEA spokeswoman said a deep clean of the unit was undertaken following the alert.
“IKEA Australia has been in constant contact with the NSW Department of Health and have taken their advice in response to the situation,’’ she said.
“The NSW Department of Health has advised that co-workers within the IKEA distribution centre, located in Marsden Park are not required to self-isolate.
“The co-worker is in our thoughts and we hope for a swift recovery.”
NSW Health data shows 16 cases of COVID-19 were recorded across the Blacktown local government area in the past month, 14 of which were not acquired locally.
The region has recorded 142 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began and there are two active cases at Schofields.
Since June 23, residents from six postcodes across Blacktown have tested positive to the virus.
However, the figures are based on the location of a person’s usual residence, and are not necessarily where the virus was contracted.