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NSW has recorded its first COVID-19 case in 55 days with a hotel quarantine worker, who had received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, testing positive late on Saturday night.
Urgent contact tracing is underway after NSW Health revealed “a person who works at two Sydney hotels which provide hotel quarantine for returned travellers” returned a positive infection result.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday confirmed the NSW hotel worker who contracted COVID-19 was partially vaccinated before testing positive to the virus.
Mr Morrison confirmed the revelation after receiving a second Pfizer dose himself on Sunday, but played down fears.
“The individual in this case was vaccinated. But this is important point: the vaccination is not immediate,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“It does take a while. Once you are vaccinated, you still have to try to observe COVID-safe behaviours.
“I‘m wearing a mask today (but) I’ve had two vaccines. And it’s important that we continue that.”
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard will address media at 1pm in Sydney over the major development.
Dr Stephen Conaty, director of population health at NSW Health, said contact tracers had launched an urgent investigation.
NSW Health were notified last night of a new case of COVID-19 in a person who works at two Sydney hotels which provide hotel quarantine for returned travellers,” Dr Conaty said.
“The source of the new infection is under investigation and urgent genome sequencing is underway.
“Testing of close contacts is also urgently underway.”
In a tweet NSW Health urged people to get tested if they had symptoms.
“It is critical that everyone continues to practise COVID-safe behaviours and that people come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of symptoms,” NSW Health officials tweeted.
“NSW Health is treating 51 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care.”
Three cases of COVID-19 were recorded in overseas travellers.
There were 9269 tests reported to 8pm Saturday night, compared with the previous day’s total of 9994.
NSW has not recorded a positive case of COVID-19 since January 17, when six cases were registered and linked to a western Sydney man who tested on January 16.
Five of the cases were household contacts of the man.
Prior to Christmas, Sydney experience multiple outbreaks which began in the northern beaches.
That region was plunged into lockdown for three weeks after an outbreak that originated at Avalon.
Outbreaks were then recorded at Berala, in Sydney’s north, as well as Croydon in the inner west.
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