Coronavirus: Nelson Bay Blue Marlins under 9’s to isolate after case confirmed
COVID-19 fears are forcing the isolation of an entire junior football team in Port Stephens after a teammate was one of the three confirmed cases.
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An entire junior football team will have to isolate for two weeks after it was confirmed a player was one of the three newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Port Stephens.
The Tomaree Public School student who plays for Nelson Bay Blue Marlins under 9 Aussie rules side participated in a match against the Newcastle City Sky Blues at Don Waring Oval on Sunday July 19 between 8.15am and 10am.
The child’s teammates are considered close contacts and are being notified to ensure they self-isolate for 14 days.
The opposing team, and others present at the oval are asked to be on the lookout for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested immediately if any respiratory symptoms occur.
The Nelson Bay Marlins AFL Club posted on their Facebook page, “due to the new cases of COVID-19 in the Nelson Bay area, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all training”.
“Stay tuned for more information regarding this weekend’s games and remember if you have any symptoms, please isolate yourself and get tested immediately.”
The other two confirmed cases were a man in his 30s and a toddler who attends the Goodstart Anna Bay Childcare Centre.
All three are connected with the recent case in Port Stephens - a man in his 60s - who was in contact with a visitor from Sydney.
The man in his 20s - who was linked to the Thai Rock Restaurant cluster in Sydney - infected a friend at Port Stephens while visiting on July 13.
Hunter health authorities confirmed the trio were all in strict isolation.
The childcare centre, Tomaree Public and Tomaree High School were all closed on Thursday for contact tracing and deep cleaning.
A warning has also been issued to customers at the Salamander Bay Shopping Centre, where the infected Sydney case visited.
People who attended the centre on July 15, or the Woolworths supermarket from the 17-20th July are being urged to get tested for COVID-19, especially those who are showing flu-like symptoms.
People who went to the Fingal Bay Cafe on Market street on the 17th July between 11.30 and 12pm, should also get tested.
Both venues have had a deep clean and there is no ongoing risk to the public.
An East Maitland pub was also closed on Wednesday for deep cleaning and for all staff to get tested, after it was confirmed late Tuesday the Sydney coronavirus case had visited the venue on July 13, between 6-8pm.
It’s prompted an alert from Hunter health authorities, warning people who attended any of the mentioned venues on those days, and residents and visitors to the Port Stephens area, to seek testing if they’re showing flu-like symptoms.
“Don’t visit Sydney” has also been the message following a number of newly diagnosed cases which have started to pop up across the Hunter.