SOUTH Coast Police officers involved in the arrest of a man who later tested positive to COVID-19 remain negative to the virus.
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The 36-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, July 29 and taken to the Nowra Police Station, with health authorities revealing he tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, August 4, at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater.
A police spokesperson said the man was arrested at a home at Nowra and charged with domestic violence-related offences and all officers involved in the incident were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
"All officers who engaged with the man were wearing appropriate PPE," the spokesperson said.
"And while a number of close and casual police contacts were identified, at this stage no positive results have been returned."
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While a number of close and casual police contacts were identified, at this stage no positive results have been returned.
- NSW Police
The Nowra Police Station has since undergone a deep clean, which the South Coast Register understands included the cell the man occupied, the station's charge area and the vehicle he was transported in.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District confirmed the positive case, in a statement saying, in the 24-hour period to 8pm Wednesday, August 4 there was one new COVID-19 case identified by NSW Health.
"While this new case is a resident of the Shoalhaven Local Government Area, they are under the jurisdictional authority of Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network and not currently in the local health district," the spokesperson said.
"As with all confirmed cases, the Public Health Unit has been tracing the case's movements and who they may have come into contact with.
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"When a confirmed COVID-19 case attends a venue while possibly infectious, NSW Health carries out a risk assessment on that venue to determine whether other people may have been exposed and whether there is a public health risk.
All officers who engaged with the man were wearing appropriate PPE.
- NSW Police
"There are currently no public venues of concern identified in the Shoalhaven Local Government Area."
Corrective Services NSW said it has taken "appropriate health and safety measures" after the inmate tested positive.
"The man arrived at the centre on Tuesday (August 3), was housed in a single cell and subject to the appropriate COVID-19 protocols," a Correctives NSW spokesperson said.
"He has since been placed into a designated isolation area."
Inmates are tested for COVID-19 when they arrive in custody as a precaution. It was this sentinel test that determined he was positive.
"The safety of all staff and inmates is our number one priority, and remains at the forefront of our decision-making while COVID-19 continues to pose a risk," the spokesperson said.
As with all confirmed cases, the Public Health Unit has been tracing the case's movements and who they may have come into contact with.
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
"The CSNSW COVID Command Post is working with staff to identify anyone who has had contact with the inmate and any impacted staff will be directed to go for immediate COVID-19 testing and isolate in accordance with NSW Health advice."
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network confirmed it is treating an individual who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is in isolation.
"Anyone in contact with the individual has been isolated from others and will stay there until a negative test result on their 14th day," the spokesperson said.
"To ensure the safety of everyone within correctional settings, we have comprehensive infection control policies and protocols to stop the spread of infection.
"These include quarantining new arrivals from the general population, the use of PPE, as well as regular screening and testing, and contact tracing.
"For privacy reasons, we do not comment on individual patient healthcare needs."
The spokesperson said to date there has been no COVID-19 transmission in a prison setting within NSW.
Since March 2020, the Network has delivered COVID-19 vaccinations to correctional officers and patients in line with the Commonwealth Government and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice.
Venues of concern and relevant health advice are included on the NSW Government website, which is updated regularly as investigations continue - for the latest advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19