More alerts have been issued for possible COVID-19 exposure sites by NSW Health as almost 250 people remain in isolation on the South Coast.
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Alerts were issued on Wednesday night for venues in Gundagai, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Huskisson and Vincentia that were visited by a Melbourne family of four last month, who were later diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning home.
The father had symptoms on May 25 after driving back to Melbourne on May 24. He tested positive on Monday, nearly a week later, as did his wife and children.
There have been no cases recorded in NSW but several new testing facilities on the South Coast have been testing locals amid concerns the virus could have spread.
The results of some of those tests should be known on Thursday.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Wednesday said NSW Health was working with Victorian authorities to determine who in the family contracted the virus first.
"If this gentleman was the source for those individuals, then they were not potentially infectious when they were in NSW, and clearly if the reverse is the case that may take back the exposure period," she told reporters.
Already 243 people have been instructed to get tested and isolate while they await further instructions from NSW Health.
"We've asked (them) to stop and stay until we actually really understand and do a full assessment of the risk," Dr Chant said.
Victorian authorities believe the strain circulating in the state is much more infectious than previous variants, capable of transmitting between strangers with very minimal contact.
Those concerns prompted the Victorian government to extend the lockdown for Greater Melbourne for at least another seven days until midnight on June 10.
However, Dr Chant downplayed those fears, saying NSW has also had occasions of transmission with very minimal contact.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the scare is a reminder of the urgent need for people to get vaccinated, and for testing rates to remain high.
"They know the drill when there are cases in other parts of Australia," Ms Berejiklian said.
"We've seen more than 21,000 people come forward in the last 24 hours in NSW and get tested - that's outstanding."
Australian Associated Press
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