NSW Health is urging residents in Balmain to be on alert for COVID-19 symptoms after a Woolworths supermarket worker tested positive to COVID-19.
The man spent two weeks in hotel quarantine in Melbourne. He developed symptoms on June 14 and tested positive for the virus on day seven of quarantine, on June 18.
Victorian officials released him on June 26, which was 14 days after he arrived and 12 days after his onset of symptoms.
He travelled on Jetstar Flight JQ510 Melbourne to Sydney on June 26. NSW Health is contacting people who sat in the same row and in the two rows in front and behind of him.
The man then worked at the Woolworths store at 276 Darling St Balmain on June 27 and 28.
After presenting with COVID symptoms, he had a COVID-19 test and was assessed as positive last night.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said anyone who visited the Woolworths store on either of the days the man worked should come forward and be tested if they had any flu- or cold-like symptoms, or other COVID symptoms, however mild.
“NSW Health is now acting on a precautionary basis. Balmain residents should be on alert for any symptoms and come forward and get tested,” Mr Hazzard said.
“In NSW, we have always taken a strong position on hotel quarantine, processing more than 30,000 returning travellers since March 29.”
Mr Hazzard said Woolworths has been exemplary in managing this issue and ensuring all staff who may have been in contact with the man are now in self-isolation. A deep clean of the store has also been undertaken.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health immediately commenced rigorous contact tracing procedures after the man tested positive.
“Fifty staff at the store have been told to self-isolate immediately, while NSW Health officials are contact tracing anyone else who may have been in contact with the man,” Dr Chant said.
“The man worked in the self-service section of Darling Street Woolworths and while we believe him to be a low-level risk of infection we are taking every precaution possible to protect the people on NSW.”
NSW Health has set up COVID-19 clinics across the state. A full list of COVID-19 testing clinics is available at COVID-19 Clinics.