THE University of Newcastle has published a list of venues at its campuses that a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 visited over the past fortnight.
"All students and staff impacted have been contacted and provided advice on monitoring for symptoms, getting tested and isolating," UON said in a statement on its website.
"We are pleased that, thanks to our organising teams following strict COVID planning protocols, we've been able to work quickly with NSW Health in relation to contact tracing to reduce risk.
"We're supporting our affected staff and students and know that, particularly at this time of year, news of further outbreaks can be distressing. Our support teams are working to reduce the stress and mental health impacts of the emerging cases."
The venues are:
- Auchmuty Library on Friday December 17 from 9am to 5pm
- Auchmuty Library on Thursday December 16 from 9am to 4.30pm
- Auchmuty Library on Wednesday December 15 from 9am to 4.30pm
- Services Building on Wednesday December 15 from 9am to 12pm
- Brennan Room, Shortland Union Building, on Wednesday December 15 from 12pm to 5pm
- Great Hall, Callaghan, on Tuesday December 14 from 11.20pm to 3.15pm
- Auchmuty Information Common, L266, on Monday December 13 from 2.30pm to 8.00pm
- Life Sciences (LS415) on Monday December 13 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm
- Psychology Clinic, Industry Development Centre, Monday December 13 from 10.30am to 11.30am
- Earth Sciences Building (GG21) on Monday December 13 from 10am to 11.30am
- Engineering Building B (EBG08, EBG08a) on Monday December 13 from 9am to 5.15pm
- Oral Health Clinic, Ourimbah on Monday December 13 from 8.30am to 1pm
- Engineering Building F (Level 1) on Monday December 13 from 6.45am to 10.30am
- Auchmuty Information Common, L266, on Sunday December 12 from 10am to 4pm
- The Arena, NEX Newcastle, on Friday December 10 from 6.30pm to 11.15pm
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, on Friday December 10 from 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Auchmuty Library on Thursday December 9, from 2pm to 5.30pm
- Shortland Union Building on Thursday December 9 from 1.30pm to 2pm
- Neurological Physio Lab (HC37) on Thursday December 9 from 11am to 1pm
- Hunter Medical Research Institute on Thursday December 9 from 8.20am - 7.20pm
- Brennan Room, Shortland Building, on Wednesday December 8 from 9am to 3pm.
This comes as schools that are now closed for the holidays inform their communities of possible exposure to cases in the last week of term.
Fennell Bay Public School principal Lenise Hollis wrote on the school's Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon that a member of the school community had tested positive to COVID-19.
"If you or your child were at school on 14th, 15th and / or 16th December, you may be impacted on these exposure dates," she wrote.
"NSW Education has advised that students in the cohort including lime, lilac and aqua and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case.
"Casual contacts are required to immediately get a nose and throat (PCR) test and to self-isolate until they receive a negative result."
Belmont High relieving principal Tony Keevil wrote on the school's Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon that a member of the school community had tested positive to COVID-19 and anyone at the school on December 14 and 15 may be impacted.
"NSW Education has advised that students in the Year 9 cohort, and students and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case," he wrote.
"In addition, this cohort includes any student who was in Group 8 for Orientation Day at Belmont High School on 14 December 2021. Casual contacts are required to immediately get a nose and throat (PCR) test and to self-isolate until they receive a negative result."
He'd posted on Monday that a member of the school community has tested positive and anyone at school on December 13 may be impacted.
"NSW Education has advised that students in the year 10 cohort and staff who worked with this group of students on this date have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case."
Booragul Public School principal Kristy Luff used her school's Facebook page on Tuesday to thank the community for their support as the school responded to a positive case. She said the last set of COVID communications has been sent out via email.
"All contacts are now out of isolation pending the results of their PCR tests," she wrote.
"I would like to thank you all for your continued support during this challenging time.
"I feel privileged to work within our wonderful, supportive and understanding community."
Ms Luff had told her community late on December 16 about a positive case and sent out information from contact tracers on Saturday afternoon. She said later that evening that an additional cohort was affected.
Toronto High principal Mark McConville posted on his school's Facebook page on Monday afternoon a letter from the Department of Education, that said members of his community had tested positive and anyone at school on December 13, 14, 15 and 16 may be impacted.
"NSW Education has advised that students in Years 8 and 11 and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed cases," the letter said.
"COVID-19 transmission in school communities has been high due to the close interactions that children and young people have with each other.
"This is particularly so with the new Omicron variant of concern, which on early information is demonstrating a 10-fold increase in transmission.
"Most people who have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 will test positive within the first 7 days of exposure, with some still likely to transmit for up to 14 days.
"There are around 9 per cent of children who will transmit to other children, with about a third of these during the second week following exposure.
"It is therefore recommended that, as a contact of a person with COVID-19 you should consider your personal and family circumstances and those you may come into contact with in managing the risks associated with potential transmission.
"You should avoid high risk settings (health care, aged care, correctional facilities) where possible, and take extra precautions around vulnerable people including family members, for 14 days after your last exposure.
"You should also have another nose and throat (PCR) test six days after exposure."
Mr McConville said on Monday he had received advice that Department of Education schools only need to report confirmed cases up to Friday December 17.
"Any confirmed cases since Friday (even if the person has been at school) is now considered a private health matter and the person should contact NSW Health and follow their advice," he wrote on Monday.
"If Toronto High School needs to do any contact tracing, NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education COVID Response team will contact me."
Hunter River High principal Deb Dibley told her school community on Monday afternoon that anyone at school on December 13 and 15 may be impacted after a school community member tested positive.
"NSW Education has advised that students in 8E (13/12/202) year 11 (13/12/2021) Stage 4 Transition Class (15/12/2021) and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case."
Irrawang High principal Paul Baxter used Facebook to tell his school community on Monday afternoon about a positive case.
"If you or your child were at school on December 13,14,15 and 16 you may be impacted on these exposure dates," he wrote.
"NSW Education has advised that students in Years 8 and 11 as well as Year 10 and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case."
He'd advised families last Thursday of a positive case, before the school was non operational on Friday. He said on Friday only year 10 students at school on December 14 were asked to continue to self-isolate. He said on Saturday students in year 10 and staff who worked with this group of students on December 14 had been identified as close contacts.
He said on Monday another person had tested positive and anyone at school on December 14 may be impacted. "NSW Education has advised that students in the Clontarf Academy and staff who worked with this group of students on these dates have been identified as a casual contact of the confirmed case."
He said later on Monday that people previously advised that they were close contacts following exposure on December 13 and 14 were casual contacts and could leave self-isolation if they had not done so already, provided that they have had a nose and throat (PCR) test and received a negative result.
Other schools with positive cases in the past week include Ashtonfield Public, Beresfield Public, Glendale East Public and Newcastle High.
A Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle spokesperson said Catholic schools finished lessons on Wednesday December 15.
"Nevertheless, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and its school leaders continue to work with NSW Health to identify contacts and communicate with school communities as needed, even after the official end of the school year."
