Tangara school to close for two weeks after second student tests positive
All secondary students at Tangara School for Girls have been directed to isolate for two weeks after a second student at the Catholic school tested positive for COVID-19.
The school's principal, Rita Sakr, confirmed the second positive case in a statement late on Saturday, and announced that the school would close with no secondary students permitted on campus until Monday, August 24.
Tangara School for Girls is now closed for a fortnight after a second student tested positive to COVID-19.Credit:Nine News
All of those students and any other associated close contacts of the two students have also been asked to arrange for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible, but must remain in isolation for two weeks even if they test negative.
The Cherrybrook school was closed for cleaning on Friday after the first case was identified. Its junior school will also be closed to most students for the next fortnight.
Year 12 students will commence remote learning from Tuesday, and will be contacted regarding arrangements for their HSC trial exams on Monday. The rest of the secondary students will start remote learning from Wednesday.
"From the moment we were notified of a confirmed case... we have been working very closely with NSW Health, the Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools NSW to ensure that all steps are taken to maintain the safety of the Tangara and wider communities," Ms Sakr said in the statement.
"The safety and wellbeing of our staff, students and families is of paramount importance to us at all times."
The student who tested positive on Friday was one of a handful of cases of concern to NSW Health authorities, with no clear link to a known case.
Meanwhile, a healthcare worker in the emergency department at Hornsby Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19 and NSW Health are in the process of identifying members of the public who may need to self-isolate.
Anyone who visited a Bunnings store in Campbelltown this week is also being told to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after an employee tested positive for the virus.
A healthcare worker in the emergency department at Hornsby Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19.Credit:Adam Hollingworth
The Hornsby Hospital staff member worked one shift while infectious on August 6, from 11am to midnight, a spokeswoman for the health department said.
"The staff member became unwell after their shift and immediately self-isolated and got tested for COVID-19," she said.
The person was wearing a mask while in contact with patients.
However, NSW Health is in the process of identifying members of the public who had contact with the healthcare worker so they can be notified, the spokeswoman said.
Other hospital staff who had contact with the person have already been identified and instructed to self-isolate for 14 days.
The healthcare worker was diagnosed with the virus on Saturday and is a household contact of another person who was also confirmed as a COVID-19 case on the same day.
"There is no impact on the services being provided by the Emergency Department," the spokeswoman said.
The Bunnings employee worked at the Campbelltown store from 11am to 7pm on August 4, from 8am to 4pm on August 5 and from 1pm to 3pm on August 6.
Anyone who visited a Bunnings store in western Sydney this week is being told to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after an employee tested positive for the virus.Credit:Pat Scala
NSW Health said the employee was wearing a mask and practising social distancing during the shifts but customers who visited the store during these times are urged to monitor for symptoms.
"Even if mild symptoms occur ... get tested and isolate," NSW Health said in a statement on Saturday.
Other staff members have been identified as close contacts of the employee and are self-isolating.
Bunnings chief operating officer Debbie Poole said the store "has undergone two deep cleans using disinfectants since the team member last worked in addition to the routine cleaning that occurs each day".
The store is also being cleaned a third time, she said.
The Hornsby Hospital staff member worked one shift while infectious on August 6, from 11am to midnight, a spokeswoman for the health department said.