A construction worker has reportedly tested positive to COVID-19 in Goulburn in the NSW southern tablelands, sparking fears the Sydney outbreak has reached the regions.
The person who tested positive is understood to be a painter who travelled from southern Sydney to Goulburn to work on the construction of the new Goulburn Hospital, Goulburn, Mayor Bob Kirk told AAP.
Southern Local Health District will open an additional testing facility from Tuesday to deal with the expected influx of people coming forward to get tested.
There has been no official notification from health authorities yet, but Mr Kirk says he has received multiple reports about the case and the hospital worksite has been shut down.
This new COVID-19 case in Goulburn is also likely to put the ACT on high alert as many workers commute between the cities every day.
In a statement, ACT Health said it will be working with NSW Health and the Southern Local Health District this morning to identify any impact the confirmed case may have on the ACT.
“We will provide the community with updated information and advice if required.
“In the meantime, we remind any Canberran who has recently travelled in NSW to check the ACT COVID-19 website for exposure sites and get tested if you have even the mildest of symptoms of COVID-19.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed the ACT Government would wait for more information from NSW authorities to assess the risk to the ACT, and said he wouldn’t rule out the need for further decisions to be made.
“If it does have further implications… ACT Health and ACT Government will respond.”
The growing COVID-19 outbreak has so far been confined to Greater Sydney and its surrounds, but Mr Kirk says he fears essential work permits may be putting regional towns at risk.
“The COVID disease doesn’t ask people if they have a travel exemption or not, it just attaches to whoever it can,” he said on Tuesday.
“But I understand he is a painter … I don’t know how that qualifies as essential right now.”
“I know there are more than a few painters around this place that could step up if needed.”
Shortly after the new positive case was announced the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government would most likely now consider Goulburn a hotspot.
With AAP
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