Kellyville man tests positive to Covid-19

A young Hills man who caught Covid has revealed how virulent the Delta strain is and is still baffled about how he tested positive after only travelling to work, and visiting one shop and a servo.

A 29-year-old Kellyville man who caught Covid shows how virulent the Delta strain is; he is still baffled about how he tested positive.

Joseph Portelli works at Calypso Bakery in Pendle Hill Meat Market, where his parents Joseph and Miriam run the successful pie shop.

Mr Portelli undertook a mandatory test for food workers and despite being asymptomatic, discovered he had Covid on Sunday August 15, forcing the temporary closure of Calypso.

“I was a bit shocked,’’ Mr Portelli said.

“I had no idea how I got it. Deep down I thought ‘No, maybe it’s a mistake or something. I had no symptoms, I’d only been to work, there were no cases at work.

“I have no idea because lately I’ve only been working out the back in the kitchen. I’ve hardly been at the front so I couldn’t have got it from there (customers).’’

Apart from going to work, Mr Portelli said he only went to a petrol station and Coles at Kellyville Village.

Neither site has been listed as an exosure site by NSW Health.

Mr Portelli, who was due to be vaccinated a week after his diagnosis, lives with his parents and older brother and is confined to his bedroom.

They undertake tests regularly and do not have the virus, nor do their workmates at the bakery.

Like many other patients, NSW Health offered Mr Portelli to stay at a hotel and police visited him the day after he was diagnosed.

However, there was no follow up call from health authorities until more than a week after the original phone call on August 24.

Joseph Portelli visited a Coles supermarket at Kellyville Village.

It left Mr Portelli “with no idea what to do”.

“I need to know what to do, do I go get another test, or what? And I don’t even exactly know when to go. It’s a bit hard to know whoever you call, you wait an hour. Once I did call because they said it might be a bit better to get a hotel and I thought it would be good too, to keep away from the rest of the family, and they took all my details and they never got back.’’

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant acknowledged the health system was under pressure and blamed the delay from health authorities on slow testing turnaround times and surging case numbers.

“I think we have to be very honest that the surge in cases has put stress on both health system and the public health contact tracers,’’ she told the media on Wednesday.

Dr Chant said patients received a text message with a phone number, while adding police would be conducting daily welfare checks.

Mr Portelli suffered a fever for the first three days but is recovering well.

“It was a bit hard at first,’’ he said.

“I knew I was fine but I was just worried my family would get it, but it’s a bit frustrating sitting in your room.’’

NSW Health Department has been contacted for comment.

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