BY JARROD MELMETH
UPDATE 10:15AM
Hunter New England Health have confirmed the Coles Express which has undergone deep cleaning was visited by two COVID-19 positive removalists from Sydney.
The removalists spent 15 minutes at the service station and were wearing masks at the time, however due to the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant, anyone who attended between 2:45pm and 3pm on Saturday 17 July is being asked to immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. The workers inside the station have been forced into 14 days isolation.
Public Health Physician David Durrheim says the removalists were not aware they had the virus.
"The nature of their work means that they travel extensively all around NSW and the very nature of the exertion that their work requires means they are exhaling and huffing and puffing a lot during their work so they could very easily transmit the virus," Mr Durrheim said.
The customers who the removalists were moving have also been placed into isolation for 14 days.
EARLIER
BY IAN CROUCH
A Wallsend service station has been identified by NSW Health as a COVID-19 exposure site.
Hunter New England Health says the Coles Express on the westbound side of Thomas Street was visited by a person who had tested positive to COVID-19.
Public Health Physician David Durrheim says anyone who visited the service station between 2.45pm and 3.00pm on Saturday 17 July is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
The service station has been closed for deep cleaning.
