NSW Health Media Release Source Investigation Feb 8

(2 takeaways which better explain the time line
NSW waited 24 hours for repeat test was also positive before notifying the public

If no symptoms returnees are not required to isolate while awaiting result of day 16 tests)

NSW Health is undertaking an extensive investigation into the source of a new COVID-19 case, including the possibility of transmission within a HQ facility

Case reported today, is a returned OS traveller
Tested positive after being released from HQ at the Sofitel Wentworth

Comprehensive testing underway to assist NSW Health understand the timing and nature of the case's infection, including whether it is a variant of concern

Several returned OS travellers in the same quarantine hotel returned positive results while the case reported today was undertaking quarantine

NSW Health is investigating any potential links between these cases and today's case

All returned travellers who stayed on the same floor in the Sofitel Wentworth during this time are being contacted by NSW Health contact tracers and requested to be tested if they have not already been tested as part of the day-16 testing program

All staff working in NSW quarantine hotels undertake a daily rapid saliva test as part of COVID-19 surveillance testing

The person, from the Wollongong area, arrived from South America on January 19 and commenced HQ

They returned 2 negative tests during their quarantine period

Tests were taken:
Day-2 (21 Jan)
Day- 12 (31 Jan)
Person finished HQ period on Tuesday 2 Feb

Contact tracers contacted the person late on Thursday Feb 4 as part of the enhanced day-16 follow-up, introduced last week

Did not have any symptoms but agreed to undertake testing the next day, doing so on the afternoon of Friday 5 Feb

Test returned as positive on the night of Saturday 6 Feb

The person was contacted, interviewed by NSW Health, isolated, and re-tested, with those results re-confirming a positive detection on Sunday 7 February

10 close contacts identified and directed to self-isolate
7 of those have already returned negative tests

They visited a number of venues in Wollongong and surrounding areas, as well as a café in Brighton Le Sands in SE Sydney, before they were notified of the positive result from their day-16 test

A complete list of venues of concern, and the related health advice, is available on NSW Government - Latest news and updates

NSW Health last week introduced additional testing of people who are discharged from hotel quarantine after 14 days

When discharged from hotel quarantine, returned travellers now receive a fact sheet explaining the need for this test

They are subsequently called by NSW Health's contact tracing team on day 16, asked if they have any symptoms, and regardless of whether they have symptoms, asked to get tested that day or the next day

If no symptoms they are not required to isolate while they awaiting results

No quarantine system is without risks

Day 16 testing was introduced following the identification of people who had developed COVID-19 infection after leaving quarantine in other jurisdictions

Such testing may pick up infection that has developed from exposure during the quarantine period or in those rare instances where cases have long incubation periods