Authorities investigate another possible COVID-19 transmission in hotel

Health authorities are investigating another possible instance of COVID-19 transmission within Sydney’s quarantine system, after a returned traveller’s infection was linked to their two neighbours in a CBD hotel.

NSW Health is contacting anyone who was quarantined on the 10th floor of the Mercure Hotel on George Street between April 7 and 12, amid fears the virus may have been spreading within the floor.

Routine genomic testing following positive tests in returned travellers who stayed on the floor during that period indicated three travellers – two family members and another traveller – were infected with the same sequence of the virus.

The sequence is from the B1.351 variant of COVID-19, also known as the South African strain.

It comes as investigations continue into a suspected transmission of the B1.17 variant of the virus, another variant of concern, at the Adina hotel.

The travellers, quarantined at the Mercure, flew into Sydney Airport on the same flight on April 3, but tested negative on day two of their quarantine stay.

However, the two members of the same family, who were staying in connecting rooms, tested positive on days seven and 10 of their stay. The third person, who was in a room next door to the connecting rooms, tested positive on day 12.

The three cases have all been transferred to NSW Health’s Special Health Accommodation.

NSW Health is asking anyone who was quarantined on the 10th floor of the Mercure between April 7 and 12 to get tested and self-isolate until 14 days from the day they left quarantine.

Hotel staff are also in self-isolation and being tested.

Between March 14 and April 3, variants of concern made up 44 per cent of overseas acquired cases, although they constituted one in five cases in the week ending April 10.

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