Hunter Covid: Three new cases, Sydney worker tests positive at Boolaroo Costco site
Rolling coverage: A Sydney tradie working on a major Lake Macquarie construction site has contracted Covid, while the Hunter has recorded three new cases.
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A Sydney tradie who was working on the mammoth build of the new Costco retail store at Boolaroo as contracted Covid, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro revealing the man was instructed to get tested after presenting to the worksite unwell.
“That individual was actually unwell while working for two days on that site, so we are concerned about that” the Deputy Premier revealed during a press conference on Friday afternoon. “Everybody on that site will be treated as a close contact.
“That in itself could be a big problem, but saying that, authorised workers are allowed to leave Sydney - they are entitled to go to places like Newcastle for construction and work.”
Mr Barilaro hit out at the tradie, telling thepress conference the man “should not have gone to work sick: “he would have known, the testing would have proved it”.
Hunter New England Local Health District officials said over hundreds of people have been identified as close contacts.
“Over 300 contacts to date have been identified and are being contacted for testing and isolation requirements,” Hunter New England Health said in a statement.
“If anyone has been on this site since Monday 16 August, we request they get tested and isolate immediately.”
A casual contact alert was also issued for anyone who visited the completed Costco petrol station or membership office between August 19 and 19.
It comes as the Hunter recorded three new Covid cases, with all linked to known cases and none infectious in the community.
The new cases take the region’s total to 149 for this outbreak, and the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 153.
Of the new cases, two were from Newcastle and one from Maitland. Thirty-one Hunter Covid patients are in hospital but none are in intensive care.
“The message for regional NSW is continue to get tested and, more importantly, continue to get vaccinated,” Mr Barilaro said.
Despite the overall case numbers rising again on Friday, the Deputy Premier told The Newcastle News he anticipated students of schools in Upper Hunter Local Government Areas would return to the classroom next month.
Statewide, 642 new cases were recorded, with at least 41 of those infectious in the community.
Four elderly Sydney people have died.
Meanwhile, Bunnings has appeared three times on the latest list of Hunter exposure sites, while other venues include shops in Raymond Terrace.
Raymond Terrace, Medowie and Williamtown have been under the watch of health officials, after the area last week recorded the highest Covid sewage detection of anywhere in NSW.
Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim said sewage had been retested for an updated snapshot of the area.
“The Raymond Terrace sewage system has again had a detect, fortunately at a lower level than previously reported,” Dr Durrheim said.
“Across the Hunter Water sewage catchment sites though, all of those catchments with known cases have had detects.
“What we can’t do is lull ourselves into a state of complacency, that because we know there are cases, we’ve found all of the cases.
“If you have any symptoms of Covid make sure you get tested.”
FRIDAY’S ROLLING COVERAGE
Covid at Costco construction site
At 1.30pm
A Sydney tradie who was working on the mammoth build of the new Costco retail store at Boolaroo as contracted Covid.
“Over 300 contacts to date have been identified and are being contacted for testing and isolation requirements,” Hunter New England Health said in a statement.
“If anyone has been on this site since Monday 16 August, we request they get tested and isolate immediately.”
A casual contact alert was also issued for anyone who visited the completed Costco petrol station or membership office between August 19 and 19.
Three new Hunter cases
At 11am
The Hunter has record three new Covid cases, with all linked to known cases and none infectious in the community.
The new cases take the region’s total to 149 for this outbreak, and the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 153.
Of the new cases, two were from Newcastle and one from Maitland. Thirty-one Hunter Covid patients are in hospital but none are in intensive care.
Statewide, 642 new cases were recorded, with at least 41 of those infectious in the community.
Four elderly Sydney people have died.
New exposure sites
At 8am
New casual Hunter exposure sites have been identified by NSW Health.
People who attended the below venues are considered casual contacts and must isolate until a negative test result is received:
- Woolworths, The Marketplace, Raymond Terrace Wednesday 8 August 7:20am – 10:50am and Sunday 15 August from 10am – 10.05am
- Blooms the Chemist, The Marketplace, Raymond Terrace on Saturday 14 August from 12.30pm – 12.40pm
- Bunnings Boolaroo on Saturday 14 August from 5.09pm – 5.39pm and Sunday 15 August from 2.52pm – 3pm
- Bunnings Wallsend on Sunday 15 August from 2.26pm – 2.30pm
- Terry White Chemist, Terrace Central Plaza, Raymond Terrace on Sunday 15 August from 10am – 10.10am
- Tenambit Newsagency and LPO on Wednesday 11 August from 2.10pm – 2.15pm
- Phoenix House Chinese, Thornton Shopping Centre on Wednesday 11 August 11.55am – 12.15pm
- Ritchies IGA, Elermore Vale Shopping Centre on Sunday 15 August from 10.21am – 10.45am
- Coles Wallsend on Monday 9 August from 7.31pm – 7.37pm, Friday 13 August from 12.32pm – 12.50pm, and Sunday 15 August 7.20pm – 7.30pm
- Coles Thornton on Wednesday 11 August from 12.06pm – 12.14pm
- Big W, Stockland Greenhills, East Maitland on Thursday 12 August from 3.46pm – 4.10pm
- Woolworths Mayfield on Wednesday 11 August from 8.46am – 8.58am
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