NSW Health has confirmed that a hotel quarantine worker has tested positive for coronavirus.
Important points:
It is the first locally acquired case in New South Wales in 55 days.
Stephen Conaty of NSW Health said the person worked at two Sydney hotels with returning travelers from overseas.
“The source of the new infections reported overnight is being investigated and urgent genome sequencing is ongoing,” said Dr. Conaty.
The case’s close contacts were also tested, he said.
NSW Health would not provide any further information about the hotel employee, however Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the person had received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
‘This is an important point that [effectiveness of the] The vaccination is not given immediately. I had my second dose and it took a while, “said Morrison shortly after receiving the push.
“You should still try to observe the COVID-safe behavior – I’m wearing a mask today.”
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The Pfizer vaccine will be given twice with an interval of at least three weeks.
Australian chief medical officer Paul Kelly said it wasn’t fully effective until weeks after the second dose was given.
“There is a delay of a few weeks before this vaccine and protection is used. When you get the second dose, especially with the Pfizer vaccine, that protection increases.”
Professor Kelly said the Pfizer vaccine was “very effective, but not 100 percent effective” against mild and moderate illnesses, but almost 100 percent against serious illness, hospitalizations, and death.
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The positive case was reported after 8:00 p.m. yesterday evening and will be recorded in tomorrow’s COVID-19 numbers.
No new locally acquired cases were reported until 8:00 p.m. last night.
Three new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the pandemic started to 5,048.
9,269 tests were carried out in the last reporting period.
The positive case of an NSW quarantine worker comes after a The doctor in Queensland tested positive for COVID-19 after treating returned overseas travelers in Brisbane.
NSW Health continues to advise anyone arriving in NSW from Queensland after March 11th to refer to the Queensland Health website for advice and to determine if they have visited any of the affected venues.
Anyone in NSW who has visited these venues is advised to self-isolate and call NSW Health. Anyone else who has been to Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Redland is recommended to monitor symptoms and get tested for symptoms.
