Relief for New South Wales as the state records ZERO Covid cases despite infected family road-tripping across the south coast
- NSW recorded no new local cases of Covid-19 despite visit from infected family
- Only two cases were acquired in overseas travellers overnight from 18,672 tests
- Alerts issued on Wednesday for popular south coast towns including Jervis Bay
New South Wales has recorded no new local cases of Covid-19 despite an infected father from Melbourne going on a road trip through the state with his family.
Only two cases were acquired in overseas travellers in NSW overnight from 18,672 tests despite a positive case visiting a well-known beach on the state’s south coast.
Alerts were issued on Wednesday night for venues in Gundagai, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Huskisson and Vincentia that were visited by the Melbourne family-of-four last month, who were later diagnosed with Covid after returning home.
A father had symptoms on May 25 after driving back to Melbourne on May 24. He tested positive on Monday, nearly a week later, as did his wife and children
The father had symptoms on May 25 after driving back to Melbourne on May 24. He tested positive on Monday, nearly a week later, as did his wife and children.
Because the family were camping and not visiting busy locations, their cases have been considered low risk to a potential outbreak in NSW, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.
Sewage sampling will be undertaken at Vincentia on Thursday, while the virus hasn’t been detected in Goulburn on May 19 and 26.
‘As is usual we increase the frequency of our sewage surveillance when we have concerns that people may have been infectious in the community,’ she said.
Melbourne University clinical epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter said the family’s secluded camping trip was lower risk than if they had gone to Sydney and visited a number of venues and tourist hotspots.
She also said if the family were to have infected anyone else, it would have been detected by now as they visited NSW more than a week ago.
‘The peak for people developing Covid after exposure is within five days,’ she said.
‘I think this is giving (authorities) some reassurance but obviously everyone is on edge right now.’
NSW Health issued an urgent alert for six new venues on Wednesday night including a Coles in Goulburn, a coffee shop in Gundagai and a craft store and cafe in Huskisson.
Anyone who attended the list of venues on the NSW Health website at the times listed must immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result for Covid.
Residents who live in Jervis Bay, Vincentia, Huskisson, Gundagai or Goulburn – or who have visited since 19 May – is asked to be especially vigilant for the onset of even the mildest of cold-like symptoms.
NSW Health urges anyone feeling unwell to come forward for testing immediately, then isolate until a negative result is received.
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