More than 100 close contacts after hospital worker positive for Covid

More than 100 staff and patients at two hospitals in Sydney are being tested for Covid-19 after a healthcare worker tested positive for coronavirus.

NSW Health confirmed on Wednesday evening a healthcare worker did shifts from June 24 to 28 at Fairfield and Royal North Shore hospitals.

The worker was infectious while on duty and is included in the 22 new Covid-19 cases NSW reported on Wednesday.

“Patients in the affected wards and those who have been discharged from those wards are being notified and tested. Those wards are not admitting any new patients," NSW Health said.

"More than 100 staff and patients have been identified as close contacts to date, with investigations and contact tracing ongoing. Testing is in progress and to date, all have returned a negative result.

"All steps to protect staff and patients have been taken to prevent any transmission."

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Earlier, Chief Health Office Dr Kerry Chant said she was not sure if the worker had been vaccinated or not.

Testing to date of close contacts has produced negative results, however Dr Chant said further cases were possible.

"It's much too early to tell, whether we will have any transmission and we have taken a very broad, infectious period because of our concern about the vulnerability of health care settings," she said.

It is not known at this stage where she acquired the virus. One of her household contacts also has Covid-19.

More to come.

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