Sydney van driver who shuttles airline crew tests positive to COVID-19
A van driver who shuttles airline crew to and from Sydney Airport has become the first case of COVID-19 contracted via community transmission in NSW since December 3.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the "unfortunate" development at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday morning, saying the positive test was identified after the man was tested on Tuesday.
Mr Hazzard said the driver, a 45-year-old man, began showing symptoms on Saturday.
He said the case has prompted the NSW government to seek talks with international airlines "within 48 hours", and the government's "inclination at this time" is to look into making changes to the quarantine requirements for air crew.
"International air crews coming into NSW will most likely be required to quarantine in the same way as any other international visitors or returnees," Mr Hazzard said.
However, he said it was unlikely crew would be required to quarantine for the full 14 days considering most have a turnaround of between 24 and 72 hours before leaving the country.
Mr Hazzard said international air crews are "vital" for NSW and Australia.
"They are bringing in our freight and, of course, they are bringing back our Aussies, so we need to be cognisant of the need to work with the airlines to try to ensure that the air crew are able to come into the country ... but also to make sure that they do it in a safe way."
Under current guidelines, international flight crew must already quarantine for 24 days, or 14 days if cleared by NSW Health. If they are leaving the country again within 14 days, they must quarantine for the duration of their stay.
Those who provide contact details to NSW Health, have not been in contact with a COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, and declare they are symptom-free, may be allowed to self-isolate for the duration of the period.
Crew are not allowed to travel to self-isolate via public transport.
In regards to the driver, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the usual contact tracing is occurring, with the man's household contacts already tested and awaiting results.
Genome sequencing of the strain is also being expedited.
Dr Chant said the driver's "sole responsibility" was transporting air crew and that he and others had reported that he wore a mask and took precautions. The man "does not work for taxi services", she said, but rather Sydney Ground Transport in Alexandria – which she acknowledged for assisting NSW Health with details of the driver's movements.
Dr Chant said the driver, who worked "a few shifts" subsequent to his symptom onset and visited a community sporting site, should also be acknowledged for coming forward for testing. "I want to say thank you and we need to have the community continue to do so," she said.
NSW Health would be looking into the trips the man took and the people he escorted as well as his three household contacts, she said.
Mr Hazzard said in the past 24 hours NSW tested 11,922 people, almost double the number of tests in the previous 24 hours.
"No one should underestimate the need for continued testing. If you have any symptoms of cold and flu-like illness, we do not want COVID-19 as a Christmas gift for our community," he said.
"The best Christmas you can give to your family, your friends and your community is to go and get tested if you have any symptoms of the virus, and do it straight away."
Mr Hazzard also urged the community keep the latest development "in perspective".
"You can’t expect in a COVID world pandemic that from time to time we won’t have a case," he said.
"We will now try to address the issue to make sure our learnings are shared."
Jenny Noyes is a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald.