Coronavirus NSW: Victorian teen holidaying with family tests positive

After an error in testing, a Victorian teenager was able to travel to NSW for a family holiday, bringing the coronavirus with him.

A teenager from Victoria holidaying in southern NSW has tested positive for coronavirus.

The teen had been allowed to travel after testing negative but officials realised there was an error with the result.

He travelled to Merimbula in the state’s south with family.

“Now, just to be very clear about the circumstances around this child, the child and his family were not from a hot spot in Melbourne at the time of leaving Melbourne,” New South Wales chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

“They also undertook testing before coming to New South Wales and we’re actually advised that the test result was negative.

“But subsequently, following their arrival in New South Wales, they were then advised that there had been an error and, in fact, the test result was a positive.”

Dr Chant said all of the family contacts were isolating in Merimbula.

“The only event that the family did outside the family group was visit the Tathra hotel,” she said.

Eight new coronavirus cases were announced for NSW in the past 24 hours, including a woman in her 30s who had close contact with staff at Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital.

READ MORE: Under-fire Premier rejects call to quit

READ MORE: Virus number that’s worrying the experts

A teenager from Victoria holidaying in NSW has tested positive for coronavirus. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Affected staff are now in isolation, pending the outcome of investigations.

Officials are trying to work out how the woman from southwest Sydney contracted COVID-19.

“Further investigations are under way to determine the timing of her infection, whether it’s a historical infection or a more recent one,” Dr Chant said.

The other seven cases are in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant announced eight new virus cases for the state. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Earlier Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the government was considering further restrictions which would isolate residents living along the NSW-Victoria border from the rest of the state. Ms Berejiklian has asked residents living along the border not to travel other parts of the state, warning that there’s an extremely high chance that COVID-19 will spread and formal restrictions will be imposed.

She’s also asked NSW residents not to visit border towns like Albury, even if they live in nearby towns like Wagga Wagga.

“I do want to send a very strong warning,” she said.

“The probability of contagion in NSW, given what’s happening in Victoria, is extremely high.

“The probability that we need to be tougher on those border restrictions is extremely high.”

Ms Berejiklian said she was also concerned with the lack of hygiene compliance in some cafes and restaurants with things such as sharing salt and pepper shakers.

“Basic things like that are a health risk,” she said.

“We will be stepping up compliance in relation to businesses throughout the state.

“The onus is on those businesses to make sure they’re COVID-safe but the onus is also on us to make sure we don’t frequent a business that’s not COVID-safe and we certainly raise the alarm if a business is not progressing in a COVID-safe manner.”