Fears of a coronavirus explosion in New South Wales as van driver, 45, who transports international and domestic airline crew tests positive
New South Wales has recorded its first community transmission of COVID-19 in 13 days, after a 45-year-old airport driver tested positive.
The man, who works as a van driver transporting international and domestic airline crew back and forth to the airport, developed symptoms on Saturday.
He was tested on Tuesday and returned a positive result at 7am Wednesday.
In the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, NSW recorded no new cases of locally-acquired COVID-19, as well as seven cases in hotel quarantine.
The man works as a van driver transporting international and airline crew back and forth to the airport
Wednesday's case is the first infection since a hotel quarantine cleaner tested positive on December 3
However, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Wednesday that a locally-acquired case of COVID-19 was discovered after 8pm on Tuesday.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the man works for Sydney Ground Transport in Alexandria, and the company is assisting with contact tracing.
He did not transport anyone from the general public as a part of his role.
'Also, he has three household contacts, and they have been tested and we are expecting results in the next hour or so,' Prof Chant said.
Mr Hazzard said the positive result shows Australia isn't protected from COVID-19.
'Obviously we may be an island but we are not totally isolated from the we are not totally isolated from the pandemic that is raging across the world,' he said.
'Indications at this stage are that it is but, as we are well aware, there can be a shedding of the virus after someone has had it, so we are doing those checks.'
Mr Hazzard said protocols in how airline crews are transported to hotels could now be changed.
'Obviously, we may be an island but we are not totally isolated from the pandemic that is raging across the world,' he said.
The man developed symptoms on Saturday. He was tested on Tuesday and returned a positive result at 7am Wednesday
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the positive test shows Australia isn't protected from COVID-19
'International aircrews are vital for New South Wales and indeed Australia.
'They are bringing in our freight and of course they are bringing back our Aussies, so we need to be cognizant of the need to work with the airlines to try to ensure that the aircrew are able to come into the country.
'But also to make sure that they do it in a safe way.'
Wednesday's case is the first infection since a hotel quarantine cleaner tested positive on December 3.
Prior to December 3, NSW had gone 25 days without a new case within the community.
All other cases were from returned travellers in hotel quarantine.