An investigation has ruled the removalist who completed a job at a Riverina town and tested positive for COVID-19 did not breach any public health orders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It has also been confirmed the source of the removalist's infection was contact with a household member.
On Tuesday morning, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District revealed the worker had visited a home in Cootamundra and later tested positive for coronavirus.
More than 200 people waited in line for tests at the Cootamundra Showground on Tuesday, and all those results have since come back as negative.
At least another 100 people were tested on Wednesday.
"Results of tests taken on Wednesday are expected by Thursday afternoon," a MLHD spokesperson said.
"Murrumbidgee Local Health District thanks the community for their fantastic response in coming forward for testing.
"The source of the virus has been traced to a household contact of the removalist in Sydney."
Police conducted inquiries into reports of a COVID-19 public health order breach in Cootamundra on July 16.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Officers attached to Riverina Police District commenced an investigation and have since found no evidence of any public health order breaches," a spokesperson said.
Daniel Webber, the managing director at DNL Plumbing, was one of the Cootamundra business owners who decided to close or limit their offerings by only responding to emergency jobs.
He wanted to make sure his team were not put at risk or potentially contributing to the spread of COVID.
"The response to my announcement has all been pretty positive," Mr Webber said.
"As far as I know, it is the only confirmed case that has been in the town at all."
Mr Webber said residents could not be too cautious but urged the community to access correct information.
"Take the necessary precautions without scaremongering," he said. "If you have symptoms, then get tested."
Cootamundra-Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister said he was proud of the town for its response to the news.
"It's fantastic to hear that 213 tests [from Tuesday] have all come back negative," Cr McAlister said.
"People have done a great job, and even this morning [Wednesday] there was a good line outside the clinic."
Cr McAlister said he was pleased to hear that the police found no breaches of public health orders, and the removalist had not visited anywhere else in town.
He congratulated the businesses who had decided to shut, even for just a day as a precaution.
"No doubt they might see the turnover impacted, but they wanted to provide that extra safety and make sure if the virus was here, it didn't spread," Cr McAlister said.
"I think the community has handled it very well, but the message remains - if you are sick, get tested."
While the MLHD mobile testing clinic will be stood down, COVID testing remains available at Cootamundra Hospital in Mackay Street.
The clinic will be open from 1pm to 3pm on Thursday and 11am to 1pm on Friday.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters