Three new local cases of COVID-19 and a warning that there could be more to come put the potential reopening of the Queensland border on November 1 at risk
Between 24 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, three cases were recorded among travelers overseas But three subsequently confirmed cases cut short the 12-day streak of recent lack of community transmission in the state
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NSW has ended its streak of days without community transmission, with three local cases confirmedCredit: Jessica Hromas
These cases in people in western and southwestern Sydney, which will be included in Thursday’s COVID-19 report, are still under « urgent » investigation
Dr Kerry Chant, head of health for NSW, said she expects to see more local cases in the coming days
« We are still seeing close contacts, especially household contacts, that could get infected, and that’s because people are contagious before symptoms appear, » she said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was not surprised to see cases of the virus acquired locally
« We are always going to have cases, because we are in a pandemic », she said on Wednesday morning
Locally acquired cases in New South Wales are still under investigation So far no link has been found between them and they have not been linked to existing outbreaks
One of the new cases was potentially behind traces of the coronavirus found in sewage testing, in a woman in her 50s from Camden, who lives in the West Camden catchment area The other two cases involved a man in his 50s from Wollondilly and a woman in his 50s from Parramatta
On Wednesday afternoon, a public health alert was issued for a First Carlingford Pilates Fitness class on Saturday, October 3 from 815 p.m. to 9:15 a.m. People who attended this class were considered contacts close of a case, NSW Health said, and must get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of symptoms
People who attended several other sites between Friday and Sunday in the South West, West and North West areas of Sydney, including Westfield Parramatta between 9Monday 30 to 11am – were considered casual contacts
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On Wednesday evening, NSW Health said one of the new cases visited Ripples restaurant in Milsons Point on Saturday, October 3 from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.30h
Contact tracing has started, after a small number of walk-in clients failed to register their presence
« All diners who were in this restaurant at the time are considered close contacts and should immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days since arrival, and remain isolated for the entire period, even if a negative test result is received, « the department says
Anyone who has frequented the following locations during these times is considered casual contact and should immediately self-isolate and get tested even if symptoms develop
Under Queensland rules, NSW must go 28 days without community transmission before the border can be reopened NSW health authorities must also be able to trace cases within 48 hours, otherwise cases with unknown sources will reset the border clock to zero
On Wednesday afternoon, Queensland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Steven Miles said he hoped the border could reopen as early as November 1 but warned the situation could change further in any time
« NSW contact tracers will have 48 hours to see if they can scientifically link these cases to existing clusters, I really hope they can. If they can, it will have no effect on our timeline, ”he said
« As far as we know, for now we are still on track for this review towards the end of the month »
Earlier Wednesday, Ms Berejiklian said Queensland’s definition of what would be safe enough to reopen the border was « unrealistic »
« I will tell you that until the end of the pandemic, it is highly unlikely, highly unlikely that NSW will ever reach 28 days without community transmission, because that is not how a pandemic works, » said she declared
The number of tests remains low in NSW with 5,970 tests confirmed in the last reporting period.However, Dr Chant expected that number to increase, after NSW Health urged people living in the Hawkesbury and South West Sydney areas to report for testing on Tuesday when the state’s wastewater monitoring system detected fragments of the virus in North Richmond and West Camden sewage treatment plants
Victoria has only recorded six cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths, with Prime Minister Daniel Andrews saying there was some flexibility around the criteria for relaxing lockdown restrictions in that state on the 19th October
« I hope that the intention of the federal government to bring down all these borders by Christmas will be realized, » she said
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An earlier version of the story listed the Artamon Mazda Repair Center alert date as Saturday October 3 NSW Health has released an update to correct the date as Friday October 2
NSW COVID Case
World News – UA – NSW has 48 hours to trace new COVID-19 cases or reset clock at Queensland border
