NSW records 35 new COVID-19 cases, 24 of those in isolation for entire period

NSW has recorded 35 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, and the Premier says the next couple of days will be “absolutely critical” in determining whether Greater Sydney’s lockdown is extended.

“I foreshadowed a few days ago that the numbers were likely to bounce around, and that is what we have seen overnight,” Premier Gladys Berejiklan said.

Twenty-four of the cases were in isolation for their entire infectious period and four cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period, meaning seven cases were infectious in the community.

The Premier thanked the community for high numbers of testing over the weekend, with more 58,373 tests recorded in the reporting period.

NSW Health listed a number of new exposure sites on Sunday night, including multiple Strathfield bus routes and train services from Strathfield to Auburn and Newtown as well as through the city to North Sydney early last week.

Shoppers who were at Maroubra Coles on Monday morning or Tuesday night, or Hillsdale Woolworths all day on Wednesday or Thursday, have been deemed close contacts and need to test and self-isolate for 14 days.

More residents in a Sydney aged care home tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday after an unvaccinated worker contracted the virus last week and attended the home while infectious.

On Sunday night, SummitCare sent an email to residents and families confirming “two further residents” had tested positive and would be transferred, bringing the total of COVID-positive residents to four.

Two residents of the SummitCare home at Baulkham Hills, in Sydney’s north-west, who tested positive were transferred to Westmead hospital as a precaution on Saturday, while a third was transferred on Sunday afternoon. The three were reported by NSW Health on Sunday among 16 new cases.

It is unclear whether the email was referring to the resident transferred on Sunday afternoon as one of the two cases.

SummitCare Chief Operating Officer Michelle Sloane wrote that the COVID-19 positive residents were all “resting comfortably and not displaying any symptoms”.

While about 94 per cent of residents at the aged care home were fully vaccinated, only a third of staff were protected, leading to outrage among some families.

Kathie Melocco, whose parents were transferred to hospital after her father tested positive, told 2GB on Monday morning that families weren’t told staff were unvaccinated.

“I’m furious. I had assumed when mum and dad were vaccinated, and after all the trouble we’ve had in aged care, that the jab was given to staff at the same time.“

She said her father was “incredibly distressed” yesterday which but her major concern now was for other residents with the home now in lockdown.

In the city’s east, Rose Bay Public School was closed for vacation care activities, staff and visitors on Monday after a student tested positive to COVID-19.

All staff and students were asked to self-isolate until they received further advice.

“While we recognise this will be disruptive and inconvenient for families, it is important that we follow NSW Health advice and take all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of further transmission to support our community,” principal Cherie Stone said in an email to families.

Queensland recorded four new locally acquired cases on Monday, all linked to existing sites.

Source: smh.com.au