Health authorities say a group of Western Sydney tree-loppers who went door-to-door in the Hunter region while maskless and infectious with COVID-19 may have used multiple business names.
Anyone who used SAU Tree Services was yesterday told to isolate and get tested after several of the workers tested positive for COVID.
Dr David Durrheim from Hunter New England Health said one of the men was in the Hunter region for an extended period of time, but several others had travelled to and from the Hunter and St Marys in Western Sydney between August 15 and 31.
"They've moved extensively through suburbs in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle and we've had a fantastic response from the community and the police in identifying all of the areas where they may have been," he said.
"There is the possibility that they may have gone under a number of names or that members of the group may have used other names. So this is a general concern at this time.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he would consider cracking down harder on businesses flouting the rules.
Four more cases in the Hunter
The Hunter recorded four new cases of COVID on Thursday, two in Port Stephens, one in Lake Macquarie and one in Newcastle.
There was one mystery case from Shoal Bay, who was infectious in the community, and investigations are underway to determine the source.
The cases in Salamander Bay and Swansea Heads were also infectious in the community, while the fourth case in Hamilton had been isolating.
'Screen doors won't protect you'
Dr Durrheim said a significant outbreak from the tree-loppers was possible, particularly because their use of masks was poor.
"The concern we have is that their mask wearing was far from perfect and sometimes non-existent," he said.
"So often people just charge down to the front door, forget their own mask and that really is a hazardous situation.
"Screen doors are not going to protect you."
State Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison said she had been contacted by 50 people who had been approached by tree-loppers across multiple suburbs including Dudley, Kotara, Garden Suburb, Charlestown and Cardiff.
"We know that door-knocking is not an authorised job in lockdown, and particularly not authorised when they're coming from Western Sydney."
Ms Harrison said she had called on the health minister and police minister to investigate the incident.
Call to report rule-breakers
In recent days, two Lake Macquarie residents tested positive to the virus after travelling to Sydney for work.
One was a correctional officer and the other a tradesman working on a school construction site in Sunderland.
"Unfortunately there's this free flow of people and the virus really is everywhere in Sydney at the moment, I think we would hesitate to say that there was a level of control," said Dr Durrheim.
"Clearly we would like to limit, as much as possible, the flow of people and the virus between our region and Sydney.
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