Southern Cross University Lismore staff member catches Covid-19

A Lismore university will shut down for five days after a staff member, who was at work on Monday and Tuesday, tested positive to Covid-19.

Southern Cross University has closed its Lismore campus after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

Southern Cross University has closed its Lismore campus after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

The university issued a statement on Thursday which said the campus would be closed until Tuesday next week to allow for deep cleaning and contact tracing to take place.

“It is believed the staff member was unknowingly exposed off campus last Friday to another person associated with the current Kyogle cluster,” a university spokeswoman said.

“After attending work at the university on Monday and Tuesday, our colleague began to feel ill, sought a Covid-19 test and is now resting at home, with support from the university.”

She said the university had identified nine staff who had some form of contact in relation to the staff member’s movements on campus Monday and Tuesday.

“All have been notified and are self-isolating and getting tested,” the spokeswoman said.

She said the Lismore campus had only just emerged out of the recent lockdown but was only partially operating this week.

The university’s announcement came after the Kyogle local government area was placed in lockdown from midnight on Thursday due to four Covid cases being confirmed in the community since Tuesday.

Originally published as Southern Cross University Lismore staff member catches Covid-19