NSW adds new venues of concern after Vic couple travelled through state

Two different Coles stores and a Chemist Warehouse are among new NSW venues where officials are worried the virus may have spread.

Two Coles stores and a Chemist Warehouse are among new venues where NSW officials are worried the coronavirus may have spread.

NSW Health alerted residents to the new venues of concerns on Thursday evening.

Anyone who has been to the following venues during the times specified should contact NSW Health, get tested for coronavirus, and self-isolate until receiving further information.

• FORBES: The Bakehouse, 15 Templar St, between 2.30pm and 2.50pm on June 1
  
• FORBES: Browns Sportspower, 137 Rankin St, between 3pm and 3.30pm on June 1
  
• DUBBO: Best and Less, 95 Macquarie St, between 12.20pm and 1pm on June 2
• DUBBO: Chemist Warehouse, 166 Macquarie St, between 1.45pm and 2pm on June 2
• DUBBO: Coles, Bultje St, between 4.30pm and 5pm on June 2
  
• DUBBO: PKs Bakery, 105 Cobra St, between 7.30am and 8.45am on June 3
• COONABARABRAN: Coles Express, 2-6 John St, between 11am and 12pm on June 3
• MOREE: ASSEF’s clothing store, 139-143 Balo St, between 3pm and 3.30pm on June 3

It comes after NSW Health identified more than 300 contacts linked to the infectious Victorian couple who escaped lockdown, with Sydneysiders put on Covid-19 alert after virus fragments were found in sewage.

Traces of coronavirus have been found in the Castle Hill sewerage network, the second recent detection of viral fragments in the catchment in four days, NSW Health said in a statement.

The catchment includes about 8400 residents and sewage from the suburbs of Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, Kellyville and Castle Hill.

Coronavirus fragments have been found in Sydney’s sewerage network. Anyone showing Covid-19 symptoms should get tested immediately, NSW Health says. Picture: David Swift/NCA NewsWire

“People who have recently recovered from Covid-19 can continue to shed virus fragments into the sewerage system for several weeks, even after they are no longer infectious,” NSW Health said.

“However, NSW Health is asking everyone in these areas to be especially vigilant in monitoring for symptoms, and if they appear, get tested and isolate immediately until a negative result is received.”

The fragment findings come as NSW Health contact tracers scramble to find anyone who visited a number of exposure sites attended by the two Victorians last week.

The husband and wife, who have since both tested positive, departed Victoria, which was in lockdown, and travelled through NSW, from June 1, before arriving at the Queensland border on June 5.

They travelled through regional NSW while potentially infectious, NSW Health said.

The couple stopped at Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo and Moree.

Vehicles queue for Covid-19 testing at Dubbo Showground after confirmed cases visited the area on June 2 and 3. Picture: Ryan Young

“They signed in to several venues using QR codes,” NSW Health said.

Anyone who lives, works or has visited these areas since June 1 is asked to be mindful for the onset of even the mildest of cold-like symptoms and come forward for testing immediately and isolate until a negative result is received.

NSW Health has installed pop-up testing clinics:

• Dubbo Showground: 191 Fitzroy St, Dubbo, 8am-4pm today and Friday June, 11

• Forbes pop-up clinic, North Parkes Oval, Forbes, 10am-5pm today and Friday, June 11

• Narrandera Laverty Pop-Up Clinic, Caltex Service Centre, Newell Highway, Gillenbah, 8am-6pm, seven days a week

• Moree Laverty Pathology Pop-Up Clinic, 3 Blueberry Rd, off Newell Highway, behind Puma

• Moree Petrol Station, Moree, 9am-3pm today and Friday, June 11

Hours have also been extended at the following existing clinics:

• Moree District Hospital, Community Health, Picone Building, 35 Alice St, Moree, 8.15am-6pm, seven days a week

• Parkes Hospital drive-through clinic, 2 Morrisey Way, Parkes, 8.30am-5pm.