TWO men who travelled home to Sydney from Coffs Harbour in the same car with a COVID-positive work colleague have contracted the virus.
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A COVID-positive man, who worked at a construction site at Coffs Harbour last week and tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Sydney, was considered to have been infectious for the final two days he was in the area.
All people who worked at the construction site on Wednesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 15 have been declared close contacts. They have been tested and are isolating until 14 days after their exposure.
NSW Health has confirmed that two of the man's work colleagues who travelled back to Sydney on Thursday night in the same vehicle, have subsequently tested positive.
These two men have been deemed not to be infectious while in Coffs Harbour, Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Stewart Dowrick said.
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NSW Health is also reminding anyone who attended the Hoey Moey on Thursday, July 15 between 3.55pm and 4.20pm that they are a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health.
"We continue to urge anyone feeling unwell - even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhoea or muscle aches - to immediately seek COVID-19 testing and self-isolate until they receive a negative result," Mr Dowrick said.
A new drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic opened this week at Coffs Harbour International Stadium to increase the district's testing capacity. The clinic is open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 8am to 5pm on weekends.
Almost 4,200 tests conducted across the region in the past week.
There are currently no COVID cases on the Mid North Coast.
"Yesterday (July 20) was another record day with 1,426 people presenting for testing at clinics across the district, including more than half (883) at Coffs Harbour," Mr Dowrick said.
"I'd again like to thank our wonderful staff at our testing clinics for all their tireless efforts and the community for coming forward for testing and helping us to keep each other safe."
The Mid North Coast Local Health District has experienced increased COVID-19 testing since the Bondi cluster began in mid-June.
To find a testing clinic near you visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics
The Port Macquarie COVID-19 testing clinic moved from Lake Road to a drive-through clinic at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium as testing numbers increased due to the Sydney outbreak.
Sewage surveillance testing is another tool in the fight against COVID-19.
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