Two Covid-19 cases diagnosed in the Southern Highlands

Two Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the Wingecarribee region and a number of exposure sites have been listed in the Southern Highlands.

Wingecarribee Shire has recorded another COVID-19 infection, bringing the current total to two positive cases in the region.

A spokesperson for South Western Sydney Local Health District confirmed two people in the Southern Highlands have tested positive for Covid-19.

On Tuesday afternoon, the local health district spokesperson stated both cases were in isolation and had not been infectious in the community.

In a press conference on Monday morning, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant named Mittagong and Burradoo as areas of concern for increased testing.

Although Dr Chant did not give the reason for listing the Southern Highlands suburbs, the NSW Health website showed the Wingecarribee Shire had a locally acquired case of COVID-19.

NSW Health website shows a COVID-19 case in the Southern Highlands.

A local doctor confirmed the case was a health professional who lives in Burradoo and was infected while working in Campbelltown. He said the man had felt unwell with mild symptoms and isolated at home, but his family members have since tested negative.

The second case is reportedly a Mittagong resident.

Dr Chant told NSW residents to “be vigilant” when leaving the house and interacting with people.

“We do need to make sure we aren’t complacent,” she said.

Dr Chant also listed Wollongong, Blayney and Parkes as areas in which residents should come forward to be tested.

The warnings come as NSW has recorded 98 locally acquired cases of Covid — 19 in the last 24 hours, 20 of which were infectious in the community. There are currently 1171 active local cases with 75,845 tests undertaken in the past 24 hours.

NSW Health has been contacted for comment.

Southern Highlands residents can currently get tested at Bowral and District Hospital, which is open seven days a week from 8:30am to 5pm, and Mittagong Respiratory Clinic, which is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks to the media during a COVID-19 press conference in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The locally acquired case comes after a Covid-19 infection was confirmed in Goulburn.

Last Monday, NSW Health confirmed there was a new Covid-19 case at Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands region of NSW.

It is understood the individual was an essential worker who travelled from Sydney’s south to Goulburn to work at a construction site next to Goulburn Hospital.

Hundreds of people working on the redevelopment were urged to get tested and Goulburn Mayor Bob Kirk confirmed the construction site had been shut down while the spread is investigated.

Mayor Kirk said the “unfortunate” incident revealed the loophole in the restrictions which puts regional areas at risk.

“Here we are in our regional areas, hoping to remain distant from any outbreaks but it’s brought into our community from a worker from a metropolitan area,” he said.

The mayor said he hoped the case in Goulburn would spark a review of the exemptions to the stay-at-home orders in order to protect regional NSW.

“There’s a big opportunity to spread infection,” he said.

The mayor said the extent of the possible infection in Goulburn was still unknown, with hundreds of possible contacts.

“Let’s hope his contact with locals was absolute minimal or none, so that the prospects of it spreading in our community hopefully is nil,” he said.

The regional NSW case comes as NSW recorded 89 new cases and one new death.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was a reminder not to be complacent in NSW’s regions.

“If anyone is going to the regions they also need to stay home,” Dr Chant said.

“They are permitted to go to the regions, where it is essential, for essential work, but all you can do is do that work and go home.

GOULBURN HOSPITAL

“You can’t go to pubs, clubs, hospitality, anything else – you can only go there and do your essential work and get your essential food and groceries, the restrictions in greater Sydney apply to you.”

Dr Chant confirmed the man was infectious at the construction site on July 9 and has been isolating since the 10th.

“We will rapidly assess the risk around this gentleman in terms of his work colleagues,” Dr Chant said.

Goulburn state Liberal MP Wendy Tuckerman has urged residents to get tested if they display flu-like symptoms.

Ms Tuckerman confirmed she is working with the local health district to create additional pop-up testing clinics in the area.

Residents can get Covid tests at Goulburn Hospital and the drive-through clinic at Seiffert Oval.