The employee who infected several staff and residents at a Sydney nursing home with coronavirus displayed only mild symptoms and is now "distraught and mortified", NSW Health bosses say.
So far, 10 people at the Newmarch House aged-care facility in Caddens have been infected with the virus, including a woman completed six shifts despite having mild symptoms of the virus.
NSW's chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said the staff member was "distraught" about the infections.
"I have spoken to the director of the public health unit and this person is absolutely mortified," she said.
"So, I think I would urge people to remember that the symptoms of COVID can be incredibly mild and the key point is do not go to work.
Six staff members and five residents have been infected with the virus since the infected staff member worked at the facility.
The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed 16 new coronavirus infections in NSW, which took the state's total to 2,886.
Dr Chant said people who worked with elderly or vulnerable people should be aware of "even minor changes in your health".
"It doesn't matter how mild those symptoms are — runny nose, sore throat, just a scratchy throat in this case. Please don't go to work," she said.
"But I would like to reiterate that that worker is incredibly distraught about the circumstances."
However NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said there were no plans to charge the woman with reckless behaviour because, at this stage, there was no evidence of "malicious intent".
"If we thought there was reckless behaviour, we would report it to other agencies for oversight, but we will go and ask tough questions today," he said.
NSW Police said on Wednesday evening officers visited the Caddens facility.
"It is understood the woman was not symptomatic while at work," a NSW Police spokesperson said.
"No further police action is to be required."
Ms Berejiklian said just over 1,300 tests were completed on Tuesday — a low number compared to the average over the past three weeks.
The Premier also announced a $50 million relief package for the 200,000 businesses who pay licences to the Government.
Ms Berejiklian also said she hoped the beginning of term two would see a "change" to current remote schooling arrangements in NSW.
"We are keen to see some increase in the level of face-to-face teaching students receive in term two," she said.
"We are looking at how NSW might adopt such a strategy."
