Westfield customers put on alert as New South Wales announces nine new coronavirus cases including two mystery infections with another quarantine hotel guard testing positive
- New South Wales has announced another nine cases of COVID-19 on Saturday
- Seven of the cases are close contacts of existing cases while two are untraced
- One case had visited the Westfield Mt Druitt sparking a warning for shoppers
New South Wales has revealed another ten cases of COVID-19 on Saturday including a security guard at Sydney's Marriot Hotel where travelers are under quarantine.
The guard's case, which was not revealed until after Saturday's official figures were released, is the second case of a security staff testing positive at the hotel.
In the 24 hours to 8pm last night, seven cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed as close contacts of existing cases, while two were found that are under investigation with the source unidentified.
The total number of cases in NSW now sits at 3,792 with 30,810 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 32,580 in the previous 24 hours.
A previously reported case has also been revealed as having attended Westfield Mt Druitt while infectious, sparking a warning for other shoppers by authorities.
A previously reported case has been revealed as having attended Westfield Mt Druitt (pictured) while infectious, sparking a warning for other shoppers by authorities
People are seen wearing face masks in Sydney on Friday (pictured) as the state of New South Wales continues to report low numbers for new daily cases of the coronavirus disease
People who visited the Mt Druitt Westfield on Wednesday 12 August, between 12pm and 12.30pm and Friday 14 August, between 11am and 12pm must monitor for symptoms and if symptoms occur immediately get tested and isolate.
Of the nine new cases reported to 8.00pm last night four cases are close contacts of previously reported cases whose source is under investigation.
One case is a household contact of previously reported confirmed case linked to the Tangara School for Girls Cherrybrook cluster
Two cases are household contacts of previously reported cases linked to the Bankstown area funeral gatherings cluster
Two are cases whose source is under investigation.
The total number of cases in NSW now sits at 3,792 with 30,810 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 32,580 in the previous 24 hours
A worker disposes of waste outside a quarantine hotel where returning travelers are kept in isolation for a period to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Sydney, Australia, August 21, 2020
Meanwhile, fears of hidden coronavirus cases spreading through Sydney have grown after an Aldi supermarket and doctors practice were visited by infectious people.
A warning was issued on Friday night urging anyone who had visited Aldi in Bonnyrigg, south-west Sydney, on August 11 to watch for symptoms.
Cabramatta State MP Nick Lalich posted the alert to his Facebook page and encouraged shoppers to self-isolate and seek testing.
'The store has undergone a deep clean and will be safe for customers to return to,' he wrote.
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Mr Lalich also warned that a person who tested positive for coronavirus had visited a doctors surgery in Cabramatta, western Sydney, on Friday.
Anyone who visited the Cabramatta Family Practice on John St was urged to self-isolate, monitor their symptoms and seek testing.
'The practice is now undertaking a deep clean and will be closed for some time,' Mr Lalich said.
A customer who visited an Aldi supermarket (pictured) in Bonnyrigg, south-west Sydney, on August 11 has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting a health warning for other shoppers
An infectious person also visited Cabramatta Family Practice on John St (pictured) on Friday and anyone who visited the doctors practice has been urged to self isolate
New South Wales Health has said that while case numbers have remained low this week the virus continues to circulate in the community and vigilance must be maintained.
NSW has recorded at least 16 coronavirus cases that have not yet been linked to a known source over the past six weeks.
The majority of these cases have been detected in Sydney's west and south-west and suggest the virus could be circulating undetected.
The one coronavirus case reported on Friday was linked to an existing virus case at Hornsby Hospital and brought the NSW total to 3,783 cases.
Health officials are treating 111 people for COVID-19 and 7 are in intensive care.
NSW Health have also doubled the state's list of identified hotspot areas, on top of the existing warnings for City of Sydney, Parramatta, Cumberland, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool Local Government Areas.
The new additions include the entire Newcastle area, Woollahra LGA, Hornsby and The Hills LGA as well as Guildford and Merrylands.
New South Wales recorded nine new COVID-19 cases on Saturday but health authorities are concerned undetected infections may be spreading through Sydney (pictured above)
They have been identified as higher risk areas for a number of different reasons, including recent coronavirus cases, an infectious person has visited or there is a fear of undetected community transmission.
High rates of testing are still required to find the source of cases still under investigation and to identify and stop further spread of the virus, the authority said.
Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms - including runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of taste and smell - is encouraged to get tested as the best way to protect the community.
Cabramatta State MP Nick Lalich posted an alert to his Facebook page (pictured) and warned Aldi shoppers to self isolate and monitor for coronavirus symptoms
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