COVID-19 advice for the Sutherland Shire and St George
An Australian federal MP is among a cluster of at least six confirmed COVID-19 cases which emerged from a recent wedding at a venue south of Sydney. The number of confirmed cases in NSW has now jumped to 210.
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An Australian federal MP is among at least six confirmed cases of COVID-19 among guests at a recent wedding south of Sydney.
Federal senator Andrew Bragg has issued a statement confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus after he attended a wedding at Tumbling Waters in Stanwell Tops on March 6.
“After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to coronavirus,” Mr Bragg tweeted.
“I am following the guidelines set by NSW Health and will isolate myself.
“I thank St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney for their support and care.”
I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.
— Senator Andrew Bragg (@ajamesbragg) March 17, 2020
The latest NSW Health update advises at least six people tested positive for coronavirus after the same wedding.
“It is potentially linked to travel from the United States,” the website stated.
“Close contacts are being followed up for further investigation.”
New hospital visitor policies, ANZAC Day cancellations and social distancing recommendations are among the latest moves to minimise the spread of coronavirus across Sydney as the number of confirmed cases leapt from 134 to 171 on Monday.
A spokeswoman for South Eastern Sydney Local Health District said new policies for visitors would apply immediately at Sutherland Hospital, St George Hospital and Helensburgh aged care facility Garrawarra to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
“We ask that patients are only visited by: their partner, carer, guardian or nominated
significant other and that they have only one visitor at a time,” the spokeswoman said.
“In accordance with current advice, visitors must not enter any hospital or facility if they have a fever or cold and flu-like illness, if they have been overseas in the last 14 days, or if they have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days.”
RSL NSW’s acting state president Ray James also announced all ANZAC Day services and commemorations would be cancelled out of an abundance of caution and regulation of large-scale events.
“The risk to vulnerable people during the current health situation is simply too high for these events to continue in their traditional format,” Mr James said in a statement.
“Given the significant concerns around the spread of COVID-19, it would be irresponsible to allow such large gatherings as we see each year on ANZAC Day to go ahead.”
Mr James said the decision had not been taken lightly.
“The RSL has a responsibility to act in the best interests of veterans and the general public,” Mr James said.
“In these uncertain times we must follow the advice of medical experts and do everything we can to protect the community.”
Woolworths has also announced a dedicated shopping hour for elderly and disabled customers after weeks of pressure on vulnerable customers attempting to secure essential supplies.
“From Tuesday until at least Friday, Woolworths Supermarkets will be opening exclusively for the elderly and those with a disability to shop from 7am to 8am, where permitted,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
“The move has been prompted by the unprecedented demand in supermarkets over the past week, which has seen many elderly and vulnerable people in the community missing out on vital items they may need when they shop.”
The supermarkets will be open to the general public from 8am and access beforehand will require a government-issued concession card.
The arrangements will be reviewed again on Friday.
Coles will launch a dedicated community hour in all supermarkets for elderly and disadvantaged customers between 7am and 8am from Wednesday.
Stores will also close at 8pm every day to allow team members to extensively clean the stores and replenish shelves for the next day’s customers.
The supermarket also announced it would immediately hire 5000 new casuals to cope with increased customer demand and uphold cleaning standards across the country.
“This will allow us to serve more customers and replenish shelves faster, while offering employment opportunities for Australians working in other industries impacted by COVID-19,” the supermarket said in a statement.
“Casuals will have their inductions fast-tracked so we can boost the number of team members on the shop floor as quickly as possible.”
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced in a press conference today the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has jumped from 134 to 171 since yesterday.
Prior to the 37 new cases confirmed on Monday, 60 of the 134 existing cases were acquired overseas, while 38 of those cases were contacts of confirmed cases.
Twenty-three cases remained under investigation and 13 cases are currently unknown.
The new cases included people aged 17 to 69, some of whom were travellers from the United States, the Philippines and Singapore, as well as some contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The latest information on COVID-19 is available on the NSW Health website.