Fifty Woolworths workers are in self-isolation after a returned overseas traveller who served a 14-day hotel quarantine in Melbourne returned to Sydney while infectious, and went to work.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed the man had returned a positive result while in hotel quarantine in Victoria after flying in from Bangladesh on June 11.
However, based on preliminary information, the man was released by Victorian authorities after displaying no persistent symptoms on day 14.
“The facts are a little uncertain as to the circumstances of that screening towards the end,” Hazzard said today.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said with “an abundance of caution” they are treating the man as infectious despite the level being “very low”.“
The level of virus detected was very, very low and what this may reflect is just the tail end of the infection,” she said.
Fifty co-workers have now been placed in isolation, and the Woolworths store has undergone a deep clean.
The traveller then returned to Sydney on Jetstar Flight JQ 510 on June 26 and worked at Woolworths Balmain on June 27 and 28.
“He was working there and, as a result, his employer asked him to have another test, because he had some sort of symptoms and that test has come back positive,” he said.
“Certainly, people in Balmain should be alert.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said with “an abundance of caution” they are treating the man as infectious despite the level being “very low”.
“The level of virus detected was very, very low and what this may reflect is just the tail end of the infection,” she said.