Overview
It has been less than a week since NSW Health advised that a new locally acquired coronavirus case had been identified in Sydney's eastern suburbs — and, over the past few days, the state's response has rolled out as expected. Mask rules changed, with covering your face now required on public transport and in indoor public settings. Folks in the city's east have been asked to avoid any non-essential social gatherings. And, as always happens, the list of places visited by people who've since tested positive to COVID-19 continues to grow.
You know the drill from here, because naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of NSW's containment strategy, and has been for months. The list has been growing swiftly in recent days, with 106 places currently named at the time of writing — including a number of big and notable sites.
IKEA has popped up on exposure site lists a few times during the pandemic, and it has again now, with a case visiting IKEA Tempe from 10.15am–12pm on Wednesday, June 16. If you were there at the same time, you'll need to get tested and then self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
Another sizeable venue: Central Station, which pops up on six of the seven public transport routes included in the current rundown. NSW Health specifically calls out the train routes rather than the station, but if you caught trains that arrived or departed on platforms 17, 21, 23, 24 and 25 on Tuesday, June 15, you'll want to check the list — as you might need to get tested and then self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
The list of places considered close contact sites has 25 entries at present, too, so if you've been in Barangaroo, Bondi Junction, Drummoyne, Fairy Meadow, Newtown, North Ryde, Northmead, Redfern, Shellharbour, the CBD, Tempe and Vaucluse, you'll want to check it out — especially given that NSW authorities keep stressing that transmission has been happening via fleeting contact. Cafes and shops feature prominently on the list, because we now live in a world where grabbing a coffee or going to Myer might mean that you have to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days.
As it has throughout the pandemic, NSW Health is maintaining an ongoing register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases — you can check out the entire list on its website.
And, if you need a reminder, the symptoms to look out for are coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. You can find a rundown of testing clinic locations online as well.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Top image: Westfield Bondi Junction via Google Maps.