One of the three stores within Salamander Bay Square that was visited by a Port Stephens man confirmed to have COVID-19 will remain closed until Friday, coming as cleaning is stepped up at the shopping centre and the public is asked to do their part in stopping a potential spread in the community.
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NewsXpress, which will stay closed until Friday, Aldi and Woolworths were visited by the Port man aged in his 60s for "an extended period" on the morning of July 15 who Hunter New England Health (HNEH) on Tuesday confirmed had later tested positive for COVID-19.
"Once we were informed and could clarify as much detail as possible, we issued a statement to the community, our team and our tenant customers," a spokeswoman for Charter Hall, owners of the Salamander Bay shopping centre, said.
"The focus of our communication was to ensure that if any community member, team member or tenant customer was experiencing symptoms and were in the centre on the morning of July 15, that they self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
"Safeguarding the health of our extended community remains our priority and our thoughts are with the gentleman who returned a positive test. We wish him a speedy recovery."
HNEH is urging anyone who visited Salamander Bay Square on July 15 to watch for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested should any respiratory symptoms or fever occur.
The warning comes after the Port Stephens man was confirmed to have COVID-19. He is now in home isolation and "receiving regular follow-up from our public health unit", HNEH said.
The source of infection was a visitor from Sydney, a man aged in his 20s, who has been tied to a Wetherill Park Thai restaurant cluster.
Public health physician Dr David Durrheim said the Port Stephens man was visited on July 13 by the Sydney man and became "symptomatic" on July 16 - the day after he spent an "extended period" of time at the Salamander Bay shopping centre.
"Those who were in the Salamander Bay shopping centre on July 15 are at a slightly increased risk than the rest of the community of actually having contracted COVID-19," he said.
Dr David Durrheim's Wednesday update:
The Charter Hall spokeswoman said that on learning from HNEH on Tuesday that the man had visited the stores last week, a "deep clean" was undertaken at the centre in line with Safework Australia's guidelines.
This included cleaning and disinfecting surfaces throughout the centre which can be touched by members of the public.
Charter Hall has now increased daily cleaning throughout the centre.
"Given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in NSW, the best protection when outside of your home is to ensure we are all adhering to social distancing guidelines and practicing good hygiene," the Charter Hall spokeswoman said.
"We are consistently communicating with our team, our tenant customers and our shoppers regarding the role each of us play in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
"We have an abundance of signage throughout all our centres, have increased cleaning rotations throughout each day of trade and encourage our shoppers that when they visit us for their essential goods and services that they get what they need and return home quickly and safely.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that we continue to service the Port Stephens community and they have access to essential goods and services and everyday needs.
"To ensure we keep ourselves and each other safe, we ask that when visiting us please keep 1.5 metres between yourself and others at all times.
"We understand that this can be challenging at times however this is our best protection in stopping the spread. We also have sanitiser conveniently located on all entries and this should be utilise when visiting us.
"Lastly, if you are feeling unwell, please stay home."
The Sydney man also visited the Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland between 6-8pm on July 13.
Follow health advice: MP
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said that adhering to health advice and taking care of each other was the best course of action following Tuesday's news that a man has tested positive to COVID-19 after visiting Salamander Bay shopping centre on July 15.
"We have had cases of COVID-19 in Port Stephens before, and we've overcome those challenges by sticking to the rules and taking care of one another," Ms Washington said.
"This case shows we must remain vigilant and continue following the health advice. Practice social distancing, wash your hands regularly, avoid unnecessary travel, and consider wearing a mask in situations where social distancing is difficult.
"Most importantly, anyone in Port Stephens who experiences respiratory symptoms should make an appointment and get tested.
"Panic, anger and rumours will not stop the virus, so our energies really should be focused on adhering to social distancing, looking after ourselves and our families.
"It's time for our community to do what it does best - work together with patience and kindness to overcome this latest challenge."
Port's first public COVID alert
Additional health staff have been deployed to Tomaree Community Hospital to cope with the influx of residents seeking COVID-19 testing following a confirmed case in Port Stephens.
Hunter New England Health District is urging anyone who visited Salamander Bay Square on July 15 to watch for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested should any respiratory symptoms or fever occur.
It comes as a Port Stephens man aged in his 60s, who is now in isolation, was confirmed to have COVID-19.
HNEH said the source of infection was a visitor from Sydney.
In addition to visiting the Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on July 15, the Sydney case also visited the Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland between 6 and 8pm on July 13.
"If you were at the Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland on the evening of July 13 or Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on July 15 you may be at risk of infection and you must be tested for COVID-19 even if you have the mildest of respiratory symptoms," Dr David Durrheim, the public health controller for Hunter New England Health's COVID-19 response, said.
"Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to get tested. Even those with mild symptoms such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose are encouraged to arrange testing."
It is not yet known at what time the Sydney patient visited Salamander Bay Square but Charter Hall, owners of the shopping centre, confirmed that the person visited Woolworths, Aldi and NewsXpress.
Following its COVID Safe plan, on Tuesday night, after being advised by HNEH that the confirmed case had visited the centre, Charter Hall carried out a "deep clean as a precautionary measure".
"This deep clean is will be carried out as per the guidelines issued by Safework Australia," Salamander Bay Square stated on its Facebook page. "Safeguarding the health of our tenant customers, our team and our community remains our priority."
Where to get tested for COVID-19
Residents showing flu-like or respiratory symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste are being urged to get tested for COVID-19.
An additional testing clinic was established at Tomaree Community Hospital on Wednesday, July 22.
Already there had been an influx of people seeking testing at the Tomaree clinic, which is causing delays and waiting times.
The free, bulk-billed testing has a 24-hour turnaround. The Tomaree testing clinic will operate 9.30am to 4pm on July 22 and 8am to 4pm on Thursday, July 23.
Those wishing to be tested must phone (02) 4964 7497 to arrange an appointment before arriving at the clinic. Phone lines open at 8am.
The testing line up at Tomaree Community Hospital on Wednesday:
Laverty Pathology's COVID-19 testing clinic at the hospital is still operational. Testing through this clinic requires a GP referral.
COVID-19 testing is also available at Maitland Hospital's walk-in clinic which operates seven days a week between 9am and 4pm.
Testing can also be sought at Raymond Terrace Respiratory Clinic.
"Patients are only eligible to book into our clinic if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms you must: self isolate until you are able to get tested, remain isolating until you receive a negative result and are no longer experiencing symptoms," the clinic said.
"We are expecting a large volume of phone calls [Wednesday] with the recent news of COVID in Port Stephens. Our respiratory clinic... assessments is fully booked for [Wednesday]. Wait times are to be expected."
'Silver lining' to detection
The Sydney case that led to a confirmed Port Stephens coronavirus infection was a close contact from the Wetherill Park Thai restaurant cluster, the state's top health officer has said.
NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Wednesday that authorities had initially feared a fresh cluster before they were able to link the source back to the restaurant. She said that while the cases were not welcome, there were silver linings to their detection.
"Each of those cases that we announce, whilst they are new COVID cases, are a chance to block chains of transmission," she said. "The case in Hunter New England [District] could have been another cluster, could have been the tip of the iceberg, but we were able to trace it back."
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was on high alert and those failing to obey rules should face the full extent of penalties.
Ten of the 13 new cases announced on Tuesday had been linked to that Wetherill Park cluster. In the latest numbers announced on Wednesday, NSW recorded 16 COVID cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
