‘Very angry’: MP explodes over NSW coronavirus threat
NSW is once again bracing itself for the threat of community transmission of Covid-19 after a couple travelled from Melbourne, through rural NSW, before testing positive in Queensland this week.
There is now a raft of exposure sites across regional NSW and Queensland, sparking concerns Melbourne's outbreak could leak to other state's following the couple's decision.
Despite about a dozen new exposure sites listed for NSW on Wednesday, the state recorded no new cases on Thursday. There were 19,810 tests conducted, the state's health department said.
But authorities have urged locals to remain on high alert.
Earlier Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton said there was anxiety in his electorate after the couple stopped in Moree, Dubbo and other towns.
"People in my part of the world are very angry at the moment as to what's happened, the disruption it's causing them," he told Sky News.
"It's a stark reminder how we still are really in the middle of this pandemic. We need to treat the health advice and the orders that are given very, very seriously."
The woman and her husband left Melbourne's lockdown on June 1 and travelled through rural NSW and into Queensland before testing positive on the Sunshine Coast on June 5, authorities revealed on Wednesday afternoon.
Health authorites in Queensland believe the couple – with the husband testing positive in the past 24 hours – are at the end of their infection, making them less likely to spread the virus.
However the couple were in rural NSW from June 1 to June 4.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Three overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,421. pic.twitter.com/ndZSlfiqkv— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 10, 2021
Disappointment and anger about couple's actions
Queensland chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Bruce Willett said there was disappointment and anger about the couple's actions.
"People's lives are at stake and also people's livelihoods with shutdowns," he told the Nine Network.
It's understood the couple were permanently moving to Queensland, where the husband was due to start a new job.
Dr Young said the couple did not apply for a formal travel exemption despite moving home being an accepted reason to enter Queensland.
Authorities picked up the woman's infection after her husband's employer asked them to get tested for Covid-19 so he could get a health clearance to start work.
NSW exposure sites from couple's road trip
Caltex Narrandera, Gillenbah — June 1, 10.30 am to 11am
Vandenberg Hotel, Forbes — June 1, 6pm to 10.00pm
Brew Coffee Bar, Forbes — June 2, 7am to 10am
CSC - Church Street Cafe, Dubbo — June 2, 11.30am to 2.30pm
Shell Petrol Station, Dubbo — June 2, 10.30am to 11:30am
Reading Cinemas Dubbo, Dubbo — June 2, 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Homestead Motel, Dubbo — June 2 12pm to June 3 at 10am
Woolworths Moree, Moree — June 3, 3.30pm to 4:30pm
Gwydir Carpark/Motel & Thermal Pools, Moree — June 3 at 1:45pm, all day June 4 to June 5 at 7:30am
Cafe Omega, Moree — June 3, 1.30pm to 4.30pm, June 4, 7am to 9.30am and 11.50am to 2.00pm
Amaroo Tavern, Moree — June 4, 4:30pm to 11pm
with AAP
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