Newcastle coronavirus: Close contact of overseas traveller sees new case of COVID-19
A man who had contact with an infected overseas traveller who arrived back in Newcastle last week has now been diagnosed with COVID-19. He and his close contacts are now in isolation.
Newcastle
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Another case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed in Newcastle, one of 13 new cases in NSW in just over 24 hours.
A 27-year-old man was a known close contact of a previous reported case from Newcastle a week ago, who was isolating prior to his infectious period.
That Newcastle man was an overseas traveller who returned to Newcastle on Sunday July 5, before being diagnosed with COVID-19.
He was tested negative on day 10 of quarantine but developed symptoms on his return home to Newcastle on Sunday, after being released from hotel quarantine.
The latest man to test positive is now in isolation, as well as his close contacts.
“He’s been isolating at home since being identified as a close contact, so there’s no ongoing risk of community transmission,” Hunter New England Health, Public Health Controller for the COVID-19 response, Dr. David Durrheim said.
10 of the 13 new cases of COVID-19 in NSW have stemmed from the Crossroads Hotel cluster at Casula in Sydney’s south-west, while two other were overseas acquired.
“The Casula hotel experience has shown just how quickly this virus can spread, especially with a pub that is a key stop off location for travellers,” Dr. Durrheim added.
“There are towns all throughout our district that are stop-offs for travel, particularly during the holiday season so all of us now need to play our part to ensure we’re not re-introducing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
“We need to keep our distance, we need to maintain our good hygiene, these things have proven key to preventing the spread of the virus.
“Anyone who develops mild respiratory symptoms, or more severe symptoms or a fever, needs to make sure they stay at home and they get tested.
“We need to be vigilant that the virus doesn’t get away from us again.”