The Chief Health Officer is closely watching Sydney after a quarantine worker returned a positive COVID-19 test while working across two hotel quarantine facilities.

The quarantine worker completed shifts and visited a number of locations across Sydney while infectious.

Sydney authorities have identified a number of high risk locations. These include:

·         The Bexley Aquatics Centre on 13 March from 9am-9.30am;

·         Pancakes on the Rocks at Beverly Hills on 13 March between 10.45am-12pm;

·         Train from Hurstville to the city arriving at 6.30pm on 12 March. Train from the city to Hurstville leaving at 7am on 13 March

The Chief Health Officer has made a direction that those people currently in the Northern Territory who have visited these identified high risk locations, at the specified date and time, must get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours and self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.

Please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002 to book a test. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test if you did not attend the three high risk sites. 

If you are intending to travel to the Northern Territory from Sydney and have visited an exposure site you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are a Territorian intending to travel to Sydney you are advised to rethink your plans.

The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Sydney and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.

The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.

• If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
• Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres at all times.
• Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
• Do not go to work if you feel sick.
• If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19.

Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie:

“I continue to monitor the emerging situation in Brisbane, but also now Sydney as well. It is pleasing that COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane remains contained to just one case, but we must remain vigilant.

“With the latest positive case in Sydney authorities are quite advanced in their contact tracing, having undertaken extensive testing on the gentleman’s colleagues with no additional cases reported at this time.

“Like yesterday’s announcement regarding Brisbane, our response to what is happening in Sydney is based on current clinical evidence and is proportionate at this time.

“The Northern Territory has no community transmission of COVID-19 and our Phase 1A delivery of the vaccination program is on schedule with our most at risk health workers, quarantine and border entry staff set to receive their second doses of the vaccine this week.”