3 new cases of COVID in NSW, including Concord Hospital worker

There have been three new cases of coronavirus in NSW, including a hospital worker at Concord who was treating COVID patients.

Registered Nurse and Team Leader of the Covid Clinic Amandeep Kaur pictured at the Blacktown Hospital. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

There have been three new cases of coronavirus diagnosed in NSW up to 8pm on Friday night.

Of the new cases announced on Saturday, two are from hotel quarantine, while one was locally acquired with no known source.

The mystery case worked at Concord Hospital while potentially infectious, Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.

The case had cared for patients with COVID-19, and further investigation is underway to identify how the infection was acquired.

More than 15,000 tests were conducted on Friday, though Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been pushing to get the number above 20,000 leading into the school holidays, when families in Sydney are expected to scatter into the regions for a getaway.

Three new cases of #COVID19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night and one previously reported case has been excluded.

Of the three new cases:
- 2 are returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine
- 1 is locally acquired and under investigation pic.twitter.com/ptM0cPa9d0

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) September 19, 2020

Dr McAnulty said while the number of locally acquired cases in the last 24 hours, and over the past few days, has been low, the virus is “likely circulating among people in the community with mild symptoms”.

“As such, the risk of outbreaks and a resurgence of cases remains,” he said.

“It’s vital that everyone who does have the virus is tested and diagnosed, in order to stop further spread to others.”

Anyone with even mild symptoms, like a runny nose or a scratchy throat, is urged to come forward for testing.

There are currently 83 active cases of coronavirus in NSW, with four of those in intensive care.

Two of the ICU patients are currently being ventilated.

More to come