Doctor infected with coronavirus from Ryde Hospital
The Sydney doctor diagnosed with coronavirus worked at Ryde Hospital, NSW Health has confirmed. Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said patients and staff who had been in contact with the male doctor were being contacted.
Northern District Times
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The Sydney doctor diagnosed with coronavirus worked at Ryde Hospital, NSW Health has confirmed as it’s been revealed the doctor was in contact with 37 patients.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed the doctor was working at Ryde Hospital in Sydney’s northwest.
Dr Chant said the 53-year-old doctor had not been working with any “known coronavirus cases” at the hospital.
“He did not care for any of our positive cases but we are doing some additional investigation to review what patients he saw to ascertain whether there were undiagnosed patients among that group,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
She said he had not travelled to any high risk countries and they had not determined how and when he became infected with COVID-19.
“His diagnosis is not linked to overseas travel. We still don’t know how he acquired the infection.
“The two scenarios are obviously community exposure or within the workplace and we are doing an investigation as we speak.”
Dr Chant said NSW Health was contacting all patients and staff the male doctor has been in “close contact” and informed them to self-quarantine at home as a “precautionary approach.”
The doctor who was tested after developing respiratory symptoms is currently being treated in Westmead Hospital.
A NSW Health statement released overnight stated 8 patients who were identified as being in close contact with the infected doctor have no symptoms of COVID-19 after being contacted.
“A further 29 patients were identified as casual contacts, of which 10 have been contacted while the remaining will be followed up tomorrow,” according to the statement.
13 doctors, 23 nurses and four other health workers have also been identified as close contacts and are in home isolation.
In a statement, Ryde Hospital confirmed one of their doctors tested positive for COVID-19 .
“As a precaution we have contacted people and staff who are considered to have been in close contact with the doctor and they have been asked to self-quarantine and will receive daily wellness checks,” the statement read.
“You would have been contacted if you were considered at risk.”
Ryde MP Victor Dominello also issued a warning on social media.
“It has just come to light that the doctor who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Monday had been working at Ryde Hospital,” he said.
“NSW Health is working to contact all patients and give them tailored advice depending on when they saw the doctor.
“Close colleagues of the doctor have been taken off work and placed in self-quarantine as a precaution.
“I understand there will be lots of questions from the community and I will keep you updated as soon as I receive more news.”