Coronavirus NSW: Warning for churches after funeral attendee tests positive
Four additional cases of coronavirus have been linked to a series of church funeral gatherings after a woman in her 40s attended funeral and burial services over several days.
A coupe in their 60s from NSW’s north coast and a couple in their 50s and 60s from southwest Sydney were the latest to return positive tests, NSW Health announced on Saturday.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty urged others who attended services along with the infectious woman in Bankstown, Fairfield East, Rookwood and Mt Pritchard in recent days to get tested.
Even those showing no symptoms should get tested for COVID-19 and continue to self isolate for 14 days, Dr McAnulty told reporters.
On July 16, the woman attended St Brendan’s Catholic Church in Bankstown from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
On July 17, she visited Ausia Funeral Services at Fairfield East between 1pm and 8pm.
A funeral service back at St Brendan’s Catholic Church in Bankstown was attended between 10am and 11am on July 18, before the burial service was conducted the same day at St John of God lawn at Rookwood Cemetery between 11.30am and 1pm.
On July 19, the woman spent one hour at Our Lady of Mt Carmel at Mr Pritchard between 7.30am and 8.30am.
Contact tracing is underway, with NSW Health reminding anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus to get tested and self-isolate immediately.
Those who do get tested should remain isolated until the test results are received.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, loss of smell and taste.
Seven new cases of COVID were reported in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday from a record 36,169 tests, with three people currently in intensive care.
Of the seven, six are associated with the Thai Rock restaurant in southwest Sydney's Wetherill Park - taking the size of that cluster to 52.
Catholic schools close after positive COVID tests
Earlier today, three Catholic schools closed to undergo deep cleaning following positive coronavirus tests from four pupils.
All four of the new cases are associated with the Thai Rock cluster, with two linked to the Our Lady of Lebanon church, according to NSW Health.
Two of the cases attended Cerdon College in Merrrylands.
One of the cases attended Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Bossley Park and the fourth is a student at Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights.
All other children, staff, and families of those who attend or work at these schools are encouraged to seek testing.
The four students and the woman who attended the funeral were not included in Friday's numbers.
