NSW Health has allayed fears of a COVID-19 hotspot in the Hunter.
Concerns were raised on Friday (16 July) night when residents witnessed workers, in Hazmat suits, deep-cleaning the 7Eleven at Thornton (1 Weakleys Drive).
However, it’s understood it was an extremely low-risk contact event.
According to NSW Health, it is unlikely there were any community members at the venue at the time of contact (Tuesday 13 July) other than the proprietor.
Masks were worn, while social distancing protocols were followed.
However, NSW Health is urging anyone who visited the venue between 12.05pm and 12.11pm on Tuesday to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
“If your date of exposure at this venue occurred in last four days, you must get another test on day five from the date of exposure,” a spokesperson said.
“Wear a mask around others and limit your movements until you get another negative result.
“You should continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again.”
The news comes after NSW recorded 97 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday (15 July).
At least 29 people were infectious while in the community and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is warning the numbers are expected to spike on the weekend.
Ms Berejiklian said the lockdown would not be lifted until the numbers of infectious people in the community started to dramatically decline, and flagged a possible tightening of restrictions, saying “we will not hesitate to go harder”.
“There is no doubt that the numbers are not where we would like them … I am assuming because we had, in the last 24 hours, at least 29 of those 97 cases were infectious in the community, the numbers tomorrow will be greater than what we saw today,” she said.
Three quarters of the new cases were recorded in the Fairfield local government area with the premier again urging people to stay home.
“While we know southwestern Sydney has the bulk of the cases, it is really important for all of us … to stay at home,” she said.
Anyone with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms is urged to immediately come forward for testing and isolate until a negative result is received.
There are more than 400 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.
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