Macquarie University lecturer tests positive for coronavirus
The lecturer from the Science and Engineering faculty at Macquarie University has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently recovering in an isolation ward at Westmead Hospital.
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A lecturer at a Sydney university has tested positive for coronavirus.
The lecturer from the Science and Engineering faculty at Macquarie University has contracted COVID-19 after returning from Iran.
“Our staff member became ill following their return from Iran and took immediate steps to seek medical attention,” according to a statement released by the university.
“Our staff member has not been present at Macquarie University’s campus since returning from Iran and has had no contact with either staff or students.
The university claimed there was “no evidence” to suggest the aged care worker from nearby Dorothy Henderson Lodge who contracted coronavirus had done so from contact with a Macquarie University community member.
The lecturer is currently recovering in an isolation ward at Westmead Hospital.
“The whole Macquarie University community sends our best wishes to our staff member for their speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming them back following their recovery,” the statement read.
Earlier, an aged care work in Sydney’s north west was confirmed to have contracted coronavirus.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed the female aged care worker in her 50s worked at Dorothy Henderson Lodge Aged Care Centre in Macquarie Park.
“We did the checks and we are aware that she is capable of passing on the coronavirus from the 23rd of February,” Mr Hazzard told reporters on Wednesday.
He said she had not travelled overseas to any of the high-risk countries and they are unsure how she contracted the virus after first showing symptoms on February 24.
The healthcare worker had worked with 13 residents, 11 of which have since been isolated and two who had respiratory symptoms.
One of her patients, aged 95, has died at the nursing home, owned by BaptistCare, yet it has not yet been confirmed if they had contracted COVID-19.
"Whether or not it was related to corona, we don't know at this point,” Mr Hazard said.