Advertisement

Limo driver at centre of Covid outbreak believes he's NOT patient zero

The limousine driver at the centre of Sydney's most recent outbreak of Covid-19 has shared his side of the story, saying he doesn't believe he is patient zero.

Since the driver transported air crew from Sydney Airport earlier this month, 48 Covid-19 cases have been identified in the state.

Questions surrounding the circumstances of the transmission of the driver have been raised.

The limousine driver believed to be patient zero in Sydney's latest Covid outbreak spoke off-camera with A Current Affair. Source: Nine/A Current Affair
The limousine driver believed to be patient zero in Sydney's latest Covid outbreak spoke off-camera with A Current Affair. Source: Nine/A Current Affair

The driver in question spoke to A Current Affair's Lauren Golman, telling his side of the story, though he wasn't ready to appear on camera.

Over the past few days, Golman had been communicating with the driver over the phone, not meeting him or his family face-to-face.

Relaying that conversation to Tracy Grimshaw, Golman said the man is "not feeling up to it" and holds concerns for his safety and his family's safety.

The driver at the centre of Sydney's Covid outbreak says he fears for his own safety and the safety of his family. Source: Nine/A Current Affair
The driver at the centre of Sydney's Covid outbreak says he fears for his own safety and the safety of his family. Source: Nine/A Current Affair

Driver reveals why he has not been vaccinated

Golman also said the driver is aged over 60, meaning he is eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, he revealed he is "scared" to get the jab due to his family history of blood clots.

"He tells me he has a family history of blood clots, he didn't feel comfortable getting the vaccine," Golman told Grimshaw.

"He says he has been working with his doctor, they talk regularly, they try to come up with some sort of plan but at this stage he is too afraid to have the AstraZeneca vaccine."

Golman reiterated the driver is not opposed to vaccines in general, just him getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The man also divulged what he does to protect himself from getting Covid-19, saying has been wearing a face mask and gloves since the start of the pandemic.

He also told Golman he sanitises his car between passengers and he was getting "frequently tested" for Covid-19, but not every day.

The driver admitted he was scared to get the AstraZeneca vaccine. Source: AFP via Getty Images
The driver admitted he was scared to get the AstraZeneca vaccine. Source: AFP via Getty Images

"He wants to look after his own family," Golman said.

"He has a wife, he has daughters, he has three grandchildren and he wants to keep everybody safe, not to mention the wider community."

However, the most stunning revelation to come out of the conversation with Golman was about where the man believes he picked up Covid-19.

He said he was not working from Saturday June 12 until Monday June 14 and didn't get a Covid test until Tuesday morning.

The driver believes another patron at the Belle Cafe in Vaucluse gave him Covid-19, despite NSW Health treating him as patient zero. Source: Google Maps
The driver believes another patron at the Belle Cafe in Vaucluse gave him Covid-19, despite NSW Health treating him as patient zero. Source: Google Maps

"It's a strange thing Tracy, he claims he's not patient zero. Despite what we've heard from New South Wales Health, he feels he caught it out and around in his local area," Golman said.

"He told me a story about the fact that he was sitting next to a gentleman who looked like he was in his 30s, who was coughing and sneezing, he became worried, sitting next to that person and he thinks he caught it at Belle Cafe at Vaucluse."

NSW Health is still adamant the driver is the source of the most recent outbreak in Sydney.

At a press conference on Thursday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said an investigation into the limousine driver is still underway.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.