Tweed Covid-positive traveller ‘coughed all over nursing staff’
A NURSE is in isolation after an “ED run-in” with a Covidpositive traveller in a northern NSW hospital.
The traveller is in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Tweed Hospital. His vaccination status is unconfirmed.
A source told the Bulletin the man travelled north from Sydney or Newcastle and had a coughing fit as he sought help at the hospital’s emergency department, forcing an unspecified number of workers to isolate.
He said the man – admitted to Tweed Hospital on Saturday morning and placed in the ICU – had “rushed through the front door and collapsed”.
“He coughed all over the nursing staff who rushed to his aid and they all have to isolate for 14 days now,” he claimed.
The Northern NSW Local Health District said: “There are currently two Covid-positive patients being cared for in hospital in northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.”
“One staff member at the Tweed Hospital is isolating after recently coming into contact with a Covid-positive patient in the emergency department. This staff member is fully vaccinated.
“Patients, visitors and staff at health facilities in northern NSW are required to wear a mask while on site, with clinical staff wearing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate.”
The health service urged anyone who felt unwell and had symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested as soon as possible. “If presenting to an emergency department, rather than a dedicated Covid-19 testing clinic, we encourage people to phone ahead if possible to alert the facility of their arrival,” the statement read.
It comes as Queensland edges closer to easing its border blockade with NSW in mid-December.
Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Wayne Jones previously said about 20 per cent of patients used Tweed Hospital and almost 40 per cent of staff live in Queensland.
Queensland did not record any new locally acquired Covid-19 cases Wednesday. There was one overseas case.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told state parliament on Wednesday morning that players from the Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos rugby league clubs would support the government’s Super Schools vaccination blitz this weekend.
She said 82.75 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received their first coronavirus vaccine and 71.07 per cent were fully vaccinated.
Queensland Health carried out 14,432 vaccinations in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, many of which were in Townsville.
Ms Palaszczuk was pleased 10,871 tests had been performed by Queensland Health in the previous 24 hours.
“The Covid pandemic is the greatest peacetime challenge this country has ever faced,” she said. “It is not a matter of if more cases will come to Queensland, but when.”