Every resident of a Wollongong apartment block will spend the next two weeks in isolation, after they were all identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 case.
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An Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District spokesperson said there was no requirement by NSW Health to put the Corrimal Street building into 'lockdown', but all residents were directed to isolate for 14 days.
The confirmation came the same day the Illawarra recorded 22 new cases, the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.
"When a resident of an apartment building is confirmed as a COVID case, the District's Public Health Unit carries out a risk assessment to determine whether other people may have been exposed and whether there is a public health risk," the spokesperson said.
"Any other residents identified as close or casual contacts will receive specific advice about whether they need to be tested and isolate or monitor for symptoms.
"General public health advice is provided to others living in the building who are not considered a contact."
They said the public health unit also worked with the body corporate or strata manager in such situations to disseminate information to residents who were not close contacts.
"Public health experts will determine if there is a public health reason for potential exposure sites to be listed as venues of concern," the spokesperson said.
"The public is alerted as quickly as possible when venues are identified where a risk assessment indicates potential exposure may have occurred, unless the list of people potentially exposed has already been obtainable through the venue or other records."
Anyone in the community who comes down with even the mildest of cold or flu-like symptoms is urged to get tested immediately.
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