THE University of Newcastle has informed staff and students that a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 visited venues at its Callaghan campus between October 18 and 21.
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Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky wrote on Wednesday that UON's daily cleaning regime "has ensured that all impacted venues on campus have been regularly and thoroughly cleaned and pose no risk of COVID-19 transmission".
"Directly impacted staff and students have already been advised about their potential exposure and provided with advice about what to do from here," Professor Zelinsky said.
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He asked remaining staff and students to review their movements between October 18 and 21.
He said anyone who is fully vaccinated and visited the Bar on the Hill between 11am and 3pm on October 18, 19 or 20 is considered a low-risk contact, and need to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, and if they emerge, get tested and isolate.
Anyone not fully vaccinated who visited the Bar on the Hill between 11am and 3pm on October 18, 19 or 20 is considered a casual contact and need to follow instructions from NSW Health.
They have been asked to email health.response@newcastle.edu.au and notify UON they are a casual contact.
He said Richardson Wing had also been identified as a possible exposure site and staff and students who attended during this period had been contacted and provided further advice.
"Fully vaccinated in this context means that you have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine 14 days or more prior to your potential exposure," he said.
"Not fully vaccinated includes people who had zero or one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at the time of potential exposure, or two doses less than 14 days prior to potential exposure."
He said the positive case was a timely reminder to get vaccinated to protect against risk of transmission and serious illness.
"Please always check in to all buildings you access on campus using the ServiceNSW QR codes," he said.
"Social distancing, hand hygiene and your personal approach to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission extends what we are doing on campus to keep you safe as we transition back to a new COVID-normal.
"Given the continuing presence of COVID-19 across our community, incidents like this should not be unexpected and is part of learning to live with the virus in our community."
Professor Zelinsky also asked staff and students to regularly review their COVID Safe Check-in history on the ServiceNSW app for venues they have visited in the past four weeks, as a red COVID-19 case alert icon will appear if a venue is listed as an exposure site.
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Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
