Infection control expert Vicki Foxton calls for people to get tests for mild COVID-19 symptoms
Northern Beaches Hospital’s COVID-19 infection control co-ordinator has spoken out after a new coronavirus case on the peninsula.
Manly
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An infection control expert at Northern Beaches Hospital is urging residents to get tested for COVID-19 even if they only have mild symptoms, following fears there could be a resurgence of the virus across Sydney.
While the hospital has not had a coronavirus patient since May, the increase in COVID cases in the city – including a new case in the Queenscliff, Freshwater and Curl Curl postcode 2096 – has raised concerns the virus is gaining strength once again.
Infection Control Coordinator Vicki Foxton, who is responsible for training staff, implementing infection control protocols and advising the hospital on preparedness for COVID-19 outbreaks, said the hospital is well prepared for a second wave of COVID patients.
But she urged residents to do their bit to stop numbers rising by getting tests, even if they have mild symptoms.
“I strongly encourage people on the northern beaches to get tested. Even if you have mild symptoms get tested for COVID-19,” Ms Foxton said.
“The symptoms include fever, cough, sore or scratchy throat, and shortness of breath, loss of smell, loss of taste, runny nose, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite,” she said.
The new case on the peninsula was confirmed on July 29 and has been linked to the Potts Point cluster.
In the first wave, the northern beaches was regarded as a coronavirus hotspot, with cases initially rising rapidly.
The numbers were successfully brought under control during the lockdown through strict social distancing and there has been no cases of community transmission since April 27, when there was a case in Dee Why.
This latest case in the 2096 postcode, now means that 162 people on the northern beaches have contracted the virus since it emerged in Australia earlier this year.
There has been one death on the beaches.
A man in his 70s from the 2093 postcode, who was a passenger on the doomed Ruby Princess cruise ship, died from the virus in April.
Ms Foxton added that the two most important things “we all can do to stop the spread are washing our hands thoroughly and regularly, and social distancing”.
The hospital has moved to an amber alert in readiness for another outbreak.
Patients and visitors and those staff working in close proximity to patients have to wear a mask.
Visitors have been restricted to one nominated visitor per patient.
Meanwhile, Northern Beaches Hospital’s COVID-19 Clinic is continuing to test up to 300 people a day.
It’s open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm. The best time to visit is after 11am for the quickest service.
Free parking is available for those being tested.
Find a COVID-19 clinic near you:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics