Overview
With the bulk of 2020 now past us, the idea that visiting the shops might mean you need to pay special attention to your health is no longer new. Indeed, that scenario is now a normal part of life during a pandemic — and one that New South Wales residents have been getting used to during the state's response to COVID-19.
Naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of NSW's containment strategy, and yesterday, Tuesday, October 13, it announced the latest places that Sydneysiders should be wary of. The big one: IKEA in Tempe, with anyone who went looking for affordable Swedish furniture between 1.30–5.30pm on Wednesday, October 7 asked to monitor their health, and get a test for COVID-19 and then self-isolate if they start suffering from even the mildest of symptoms.
Also on the list is Woolworths Oran Park, with visitors to the centre on three specific days asked to watch for symptoms: between 5.30–6.30pm on Wednesday, September 30; from 5.15–6pm on Thursday, October 8; and between 6–6.30pm on Friday, October 9. Folks who frequented Bunnings Gregory Hills between 7–8pm on Tuesday, October 6 fall into the same category as well, as do those who went to Fantastic Furniture Campbelltown from 3.30–5.20pm on Friday, October 9.
Rounding out the latest rundown of venues are a number of spots in Emerald Hills, specifically for folks in the area on Friday, October 2. At Prasadi Nepali, the warning applies to those in attendance from 3.30–4pm that day. The same applies to visitors to McDonalds from 5–5.15pm and anyone at Aldi Emerald Hills from 5.30–6.15pm.
NSW Health has been maintaining an ongoing register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, and 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.
At the time of writing, NSW has 59 active COVID-19 cases, from a pandemic-long total of 4106 across the state.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.