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Health authorities are scrambling to identify NSW residents who had recently been at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane amid fears they could spread a highly contagious strain of COVID-19.
Returned travellers or staff who have been at the hotel since December 30 should immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days after they were last at the hotel regardless of their test result.
They should also call 1300 066 055 for further advice, NSW Health said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
Six cases of the concerning coronavirus variant have been linked to the hotel.
“This variant is known to spread more easily from person to person than other strains of the COVID-19 virus,” NSW Health said.
“The Queensland government has notified NSW Health there were NSW people staying at the hotel who have since returned to NSW.”
The hotel is believed to have been used for returned travellers only.
“NSW Health is working with Queensland Health to identify these people, so our contact tracers can provide public health advice and updated information as it becomes available,” NSW Health said.
An earlier alert from NSW Health said anyone who went to the Groomsmen Barber Shop inside Warriewood Square between 11.30am and 12pm on January 6 must get tested and isolate until they get their result.
Two new cases on the northern beaches were revealed on Tuesday, and are yet to be linked to the current outbreak which has put tracers on edge.
“This highlights the importance for everyone in the northern beaches to maintain vigilance because we’ve seen now a couple of cases or so in the last several days of people in the area being diagnosed with COVID-19,” deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty said.
“Particularly in that community, be very vigilant, come forward for testing if you have even the mildest of symptoms.”
Several other businesses in Warriewood were also listed as exposure sites on Tuesday, including major supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths.
Anyone who visited at the dates and times below is considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:
Coles, Warriewood: December 31 from 2pm to 2.10pm, Tuesday January 5 from 12.45pm to 1pm
Woolworths, Warriewood: January 4 from 12.15pm to 12.45pm, January 6 from 12pm to 12.15pm
Aldi, Warriewood Square: January 5 from 12.10pm to 12.25pm, January 8 from 12pm to 12.25pm
Rebel, Warriewood: January 6 from 12.15pm to 12.30pm.
People who visited Pharmacy Less in Warriewood on January 8 from 12.25pm to 12.35pm have also been told to monitor for symptoms.
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