5.9k Share this
A nurse at one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals has contracted coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated and wearing full personal protective equipment.
NSW Health has confirmed a nurse from Westmead Hospital in western Sydney experienced no symptoms but tested positive on Tuesday and is now isolating at home.
It’s understood the nurse worked in the hospital’s Covid-19 ward.
‘Urgent investigations into the source of the infection and contact tracing are ongoing,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
A nurse at Westmead Hospital (pictured) has tested positive to Covid-19, despite being vaccinated and wearing full PPE gear
‘There has been no further transmission associated with this case to date.
‘The staff member wore full personal protective equipment at all times while working, as did their colleagues.’
They did not have any symptoms and their infection was detected during routine surveillance testing for staff.
‘Patient care has not been impacted and continues as normal,’ the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, dozens of staff at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney’s south-west have been ordered to isolate for 14 days after coming into contact with a pregnant patient who has since tested positive to Covid-19.
The woman was there to undergo a procedure.
Dozens of staff at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney’s south-west have been ordered to isolate for 14 days after coming into contact with a pregnant patient who has since tested positive to Covid-19 (stock image)
Liverpool Hospital cancelled elective surgery to deep clean the operating theatres and contact tracing is underway.
The woman’s positive test will be included in Thursday’s NSW case numbers.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association general secretary Brett Holmes said it was a ‘sad fact’ frontline healthcare workers were exposed to the virus on the job.
‘We have to make sure every procedure is in place to minimise this happening,’ he told the ABC.
‘There’s enough people in the community infected and we will see more cases turn up in hospital.’
NSW recorded 97 cases on Wednesday as Greater Sydney’s lockdown was extended by another two weeks until at least July 30.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association general secretary Brett Holmes said it was a ‘sad fact’ frontline healthcare workers were exposed to the virus on the job
Source: DailyMail AU
