Three new local COVID-19 cases in NSW

NEW South Wales has recorded three new local cases of COVID-19 out of 18.570 tests.

In the last 24 hours, eight new cases were also detected in hotel quarantine.

All three local cases, a man and woman in their 30’s and a child, have been linked to the Berala cluster.

“These three cases are linked to a man and woman in their 30s who were included in yesterday’s numbers and we’re investigating a potential exposure at an event on 29 December,” Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said.

It was also revealed overnight that Mt Druitt Hospital in western Sydney had to close its emergency department after a COVID positive patient attended on Saturday night.

The man in his 40’s, who was a household contact of another case, spent time in emergency while awaiting a test, which later came back positive.

“As a precaution, we are ensuring that all staff or patients who may have had inadvertent contact are assessed and appropriate public health measures put in place,” Dr Chant said.

“The emergency department has been extensively and thoroughly cleaned and is now coming back online.”

Patients had to be routed to a different hospital while cleaning was taking place.

“I want to thank the cooperation of the residents of that area and local GPs for that impact on the service,” Dr Chant said.

Authorities are now conducting an assessment on what risk the man may have been to those in the emergency department at the time.

“Obviously it is concerning when any patients or staff are exposed to COVID, but we’re working through those assessments,” Dr Chant said.

“We will work through a risk assessment to understand what their movements were and whether there could have been any inadvertent exposure that would lead them to need to isolate and get tested.”

NSW Health has been advised of a number of new venues in Sydney’s south west and a supermarket in Sydney’s inner west visited by confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/Jyt36K5HtN

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 10, 2021