An aged care facility in Sydney’s inner west has been closed to visitors after a staff member tested positive to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, two NSW Hunter schools and a childcare centre have been closed for deep cleaning and contact tracing.
NSW Health began testing all staff and residents at Ashfield Baptist Homes on July 22 and the aged care facility is expected to remain closed until at least July 31.
The staff member dined at Thai Rock Restaurant at Wetherill Park - a cluster associated to date with 37 COVID-19 cases - on July 12.
“The risk to other staff and residents is considered to be very low as the staff member wore masks, gloves and gowns when working with residents and did not work while symptomatic,” a NSW Health spokeswoman said in a statement on Wednesday.
An Ashfield Baptist Homes spokeswoman confirmed the staff member worked three shifts after visiting the restaurant and residents’ families were able to arrange access to loved ones “on a case by case compassionate basis.”
“The staff member and the residents and staff who they have been in contact with have been self-isolating and receiving additional supports,” the spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
In the NSW Hunter, Tomaree Public School and Tomaree High School and Goodstart childcare centre at Anna Bay will all be closed for contact tracing and deep cleaning after three new COVID-19 cases in the area were linked to a 60-year-old man.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian implored residents to avoid crowds and limit non-essential travel over the weekend and next few weeks but said mask use in public would not yet be mandated.
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