Urgent health warning as a student at Australia's biggest Islamic school tests positive for coronavirus - with another alert issued for a busy Westfield and several restaurants
An urgent health warning has been issued after a student at a Sydney school tested positive for coronavirus.
Students and staff at the Hoxton Park campus of the Malek Fahd Islamic School in Sydney's west are being urged to isolate after the test result on Wednesday.
Contact tracing is underway and the school has been temporarily closed while it is being cleaned.
Principal Bruce Rixon said neither of the school's other two campuses in Greenacre and Beaumont Halls have been affected.
Students and staff at the Hoxton Park campus of the Malek Fahd Islamic School in Sydney's west are being urged to isolate after the student was diagnosed on Wednesday
'NSW Health has requested anyone who has been unwell or if you develop any symptoms to be tested at one of the Covid-19 testing clinics,' Mr Rixon said.
Parents are expected to receive more information on Thursday morning.
'Malek Fahd and its Hoxton Park campus will continue to work closely with NSW Health to ensure that the health and safety of all students and staff is maintained,' NSW Health said.
The worrying news comes just hours after NSW Health issued a serious alert for several venues across Sydney.
Bondi Junction, one of Australia's biggest Westfield shopping centres, was put on alert on Wednesday after a confirmed case visited for three hours.
Anyone who attended Westfield Bondi Junction, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on October 24 between 1.30pm and 4.30pm must monitor for symptoms.
Meanwhile venues in Sydney's west have also been put on high alert, including Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park and Jasmins Lebanese Restaurant in Liverpool.
The hours for the trampoline park are between 12pm and 1.50pm on October 25, while a positive case was at the restaurant on Sunday between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Anyone who visited the trampoline park or restaurant for more than an hour must immediately isolate for 14 days regardless of their test result.
Anyone who attended Westfield Bondi Junction , in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on October 24 between 1.30pm and 4.30pm must monitor for symptoms
NSW Health has warned attendees of three other venues to get tested if they experience COVID-19 symptoms:
The cases that visited these sites will be included in Thursday's numbers.
Local Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons issued a statement saying the outbreak was concerning.
'We are all starting to feel more comfortable but it's still important to remember your 1.5m social distancing and hand washing/sanitising - and to get tested ASAP and stay home if you feel unwell,' Ms Gibbons wrote.
Health authorities on Wednesday said NSW had entered a critical period in its fight against coronavirus, with concerns about low COVID-19 testing rates, undetected cases and people dropping their guard as the festive season approaches.
Venues on high alert include Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park and Jasmins Lebanese Restaurant in Liverpool
The hours for the trampoline park (pictured, lot where Flip Out is based) are between 12pm and 1.50pm on October 25, while a positive case was at the restaurant on Sunday between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Testing numbers have dropped in recent weeks, with only 14,382 tests conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday.
Eight cases were diagnosed in the last 24 hours - with only one being attributed to community transmission.
'As we go into Christmas we know that people are going to be welcoming people into their homes ... and household celebrations (and that will) present challenges for COVID transmission,' Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said.
Despite low case numbers NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people not to become complacent.
'We want to make sure we get on top of this before we get into a season where people are more mobile and obviously in closer contact with each other,' she said.
Despite low case numbers NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people not to become complacent
'It's really difficult not to let your guard down because it's easy to think that we're immune and the case numbers are low ... the virus is as contagious as ever, as dangerous as ever and it remains undetected in the community.'
She urged all businesses to get the QR code to electronically track any visitors to their venue ahead of the Christmas season.
It has been 14 days since a locally acquired case with no known source was identified.
There are currently 77 people being treated for COVID-19 in NSW, with only one person in the ICU.
Earlier on Wednesday, people in west, south west and north west Sydney were urged to monitor for symptoms after detection of the virus in sewage samples could mean the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks.
There are guidelines on the NSW Health website on how to participate safely in Halloween on Saturday, including using wrapped lollies, mask-wearing and maintaining social distancing.
LOCATIONS WHERE POSITIVE CASE VISITED OCTOBER 28
Must isolate immediately:
Must monitor for symptoms: