Coronavirus Port Stephens: Two new cases confirmed after six family members contract virus
One family in Port Stephens has now had six members who have contracted COVID-19, with two new cases confirmed today. It all hails from a Sydney visitor who was infected from the Thai Rock Restaurant.
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Local health authorities are warning Sydneysiders to stay away, with the Port Stephens family cluster growing to six.
NSW Health today confirmed two new cases of COVID-19, close contacts of a man in his 30s last week.
A woman in her 30s and a woman in her 60s now have the virus and have both been isolating at home since they were identified as close contacts.
They are two of six family members who have all contracted the virus in the past two weeks.
Local health authorities say there is no ongoing risk of community transmission.
Last week three COVID-19 cases were confirmed which included a toddler, a primary school child and a man in his 30s.
All three were connected with another case in Port Stephens — a man in his 60s — who was in contact with a visitor from Sydney — a man in his 20s — who was confirmed as one of the Thai Rock Restaurant cluster.
The recent cases in Port Stephens prompted an alert for people who had visited the Salamander Bay Shopping Centre and Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland on certain dates to get tested.
The Goodstart Childcare Centre at Anna Bay, Tomaree Public School and Tomaree High School all temporarily had to close for deep cleaning.
Hunter New England Health, Public Health Physician, Dr David Durrheim said fortunately all were isolated during the infectious period.
“We’re very grateful for them keeping our community safe, however this does show just how quickly the virus can spread where people have close contact,” he said.
“The situation in Sydney is on a knife edge and we urge that anyone who is planning to go to Sydney for non-essential travel to reconsider.
“We also urge Sydneysiders not to travel to rural areas of NSW.
“In Sydney there are particular high risk venues, pubs, clubs, restaurants, places of worship and gyms, places where people congregate often crowding and these are dangerous places to be in this point in time.”
Dr. Durrheim has urged people to wear masks if necessary.
“It’s very important if you go into a situation where you feel at risk, that you leave, and if you’re unable to leave, a face mask is a very useful additional measure for protecting against the spread of the virus,” he added.
“However, it doesn’t replace the other measures, things that have worked so well to keep us safe, standing back 1.5 metres, making sure we wash our hands whenever we’ve touched surfaces or objects that others may have touched.
“If you develop any symptoms, a cough or a sniffle, sore throat, chest tightness, make sure you get tested and immediate isolate and wait for results.”