Western NSW Local Health District has confirmed a staff member at Orange Base Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19.
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This result was confirmed on Monday morning but the staff member had already been in isolation since he presented for testing.
Close contacts of the person have been identified and are in isolation for the required 14 days from their contact. No patients were identified as close contacts.
A spokesperson for the LHD said the development had not impacted on current service delivery at the hospital.
"In response to COVID-19, a range of additional infection control precautions have been implemented at the hospital, including specific measures around cleaning and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, there have been no new cases of coronavirus recorded across the western region in the past 24 hours.
As at 10am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases across the Western NSW LHD still stood at 44, including 10 in Orange, nine in Bathurst and six in the Dubbo local government area.
There have been five cases in the Cabonne LGA, four in Mid-Western, three in Blayney, two in Coonamble and one each in the Narromine, Warren, Warrumbungle and Weddin LGAs.
There are now 18 people across the western region who have recovered from the virus.
However, NSW Health says it remains critical that all residents continue to practise social distancing to minimise the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
"This is important for everyone, but particularly for older people and people with health conditions that make them more vulnerable," the spokesperson said.
"It's also important that we protect our health care workers who we need to stay well to provide care to people who become sick with COVID-19."
NSW Health says all residents should stay at home unless it is "absolutely essential" to go out, and should always remember to:
- Clean their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow.
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
- Stay home if they are sick
- Keep their distance from others as much as possible through social distancing.
More advice and information about COVID-19 available here.
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