Tradie tests positive to Covid after working in Goulburn, 200km from Sydney outbreak

Fears of the virus spreading outside of Sydney have heightened with a tradie testing positive after working more than 200km from the outbreak.

There are fears Sydney’s virus outbreak may have spread into the regions with a tradesman testing positive to Covid-19 after working in a town 200km from the city.

The person was a contracted painter who travelled from Sydney’s southwest to Goulburn and was carrying out essential work at a construction site next to the local hospital.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant was probed about the new case.

She said health authorities were concerned from the very beginning about the risk of seeding outside of Sydney but she was confident in the health measures in place.

“We have put in protective measures in the regions,” she said.

“That is why (there are) mask wearing requirements in the regions.

“(This is) to ensure if we get a seeding event, the risk of it becoming established in the regions is reduced.”

NSW recorded 89 new cases on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Dr Chant also warned that anyone who was travelling to regional NSW for essential work, must work and go home.

“You can’t go to pubs, clubs, hospitality (venues),” she said.

“You can only go there and do your essential work and get your essential food and groceries. Restrictions that apply to you (when you are) living in Sydney, apply to you when you are in the regions.”

Goulburn has not been subject to the strict lockdown imposed on Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

But regional areas must adhere to harsher social distancing measures and the mask mandate.

The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was also questioned about the new case amid concerns of regional spread.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said essential workers from Fairfield LGA need to get weekly tests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“Can I reiterate Dr Chant’s comments … if you are an essential worker going outside of Sydney into the regional communities, firstly, you will need to undertake a weekly test if you don’t have symptoms (and) obviously if you have symptoms you shouldn’t be leaving home,” Ms Berejiklian said.

NSW recorded another 89 Covid infections on Tuesday with 64 of those from Sydney’s southwest. Another 15 are from the city’s southeast.

Both areas are of serious concern, particularly the Fairfield LGA.

As a result people living in that LGA who need to leave the area for work will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days under a new public health order.

⚠️PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERN ⚠️
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern and additional times to previously announced venues that have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19. pic.twitter.com/ulQXVsbfKa

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021

“If you live in the Fairfield local government area, you need to have regular Covid tests to demonstrate that you are Covid free, even if you don’t have symptoms,” the premier said on Tuesday morning.

But unless people have symptoms they are not required to self isolate while waiting for their result.

Ms Berejiklian clarified people who had symptoms should not go to work, and instead get tested and self-isolate at home.

Originally published as Tradie tests positive to Covid after working in Goulburn, 200km from Sydney outbreak