A NUMBER of Shoalhaven businesses have identified themselves as being locations where customers with COVID-19 have attended.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Woolworths and BWS at Vincentia have both confirmed themselves as such locations, while the Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre and Arwons Little Angels childcare centre have also notified similar exposures to NSW Health.
The IGA X-press in Greenwell Point and Gerringong Hardware store has also been contacted by NSW Health.
Woolworths and BWS have placed notifications on their respective websites, stating both businesses in the HomeCo Shopping Centre at Vincentia had been visited by a confirmed case, while Cullunghutti and Arwons both have posts on their Facebook pages.
Woolworths said it had been notified that a customer with a confirmed case of COVID-19 was present in its Woolworths Vincentia store on September 4 from 3:16pm to 3:50pm; September 2 from 9:32am to 10:36am and September 2 from 1:31pm to 1:45pm.
BWS Vincentia said the customer visited the store on Thursday, September 2 from 3:23pm to 3:40pm.
"As food retailers, we already have very high standards of cleaning and hygiene in place, and in addition to these high cleaning standards the store had a deep clean," the companies said.
"The wellbeing of customers, team and communities is our highest priority, and in line with public health advice, we are taking all necessary steps to ensure ongoing safety in our stores," the statement said.
If you have been shopping at either store at the dates and times listed on the Health Departments website, follow their advice for isolation or testing requirements.
Deet Singh, of IGA X-press in Greenwell Point, said the store closed on Sunday for a deep clean after being contacted by NSW Health.
However, the case is still under investigation with no time of concern released on NSW Health's website.
He said all staff present at the exposure time notified to IGA Greenwell Point by NSW Health are isolating and awaiting COVID test results.
The store remains open on Monday. Only staff who were not working at the time of the potential exposure are working.
Also over the weekend The Cignall tobacconist at Vincentia shops at 167 The Wool Road was also named as a venue of concern.
Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre said it has been made aware that a COVID-19 positive community member attended the centre while infectious on Friday, September 3 between of 10:30am and 10:40am.
"We have been working closely with NSW Health following this exposure and the centre will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, September 13-14 to allow for a deep clean to take place to ensure the safety of children, families, and staff within our organisation," the post said.
Read more: West Nowra fire being treated as suspicious
"This closure will also allow for staff at Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre to be tested and isolate while they await their results.
"There will be no early learning centre care or family centre services available on these days, and staff are working hard to ensure all families and visitors to our centre are made aware of our closures."
The closure will not affect Cullunghutti Preschool (at its West Nowra site) and they will remain open for care during this time.
"We understand childcare is an essential service for our community, however we need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children and their families, educators, and staff, as well as vulnerable people in our community," the Facebook post said.
If you attended the centre during the exposure times, get tested immediately and isolate while awaiting further instruction from NSW Health.
Cullunghutti uses QR sign in technology and has passed on all the relevant information of guests/visitors to the centre to NSW Health and anyone considered to be a contact will receive communication from the Public Health Unit.
"We know this is a frightening and uncertain time for our people and our community, and we appreciate your understanding and support," the centre said.
Arwons Little Angels centre in Nowra said it was advised by the NSW Health Department on Saturday, September 11 that it was clear to reopen on Monday, September 13 after a possible COVID contact, believed to be a child, on September 6.
"It has been advised the child involved was not infectious on entry last Monday, September 6, after spending two hours in the centre she was returned home," the Facebook post by Cathryn Austin, principal/ licensee/provider/owner, said.
As a precautionary measure the centre had a two-day total clean by the professional cleaners .
"All staff members have been tested and received a negative result," the post states.
"We thank you for your prompt attention to our alerts in collecting your children when advised and apologise for any disruption to your day.
"Thank you for your understanding and consideration."
Parents or families who have the slightest COVID-19 symptom are being asked to inform staff and keep children at home.
"The only way forward is vaccination please consider our population and families and get vaccinated immediately. Stay safe," she said.
Asked whether these sites would eventually appear on the NSW Health website, a spokesperson for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District confirmed that only sites considered as being a risk to the community are published to the site.
"As part of the routine contact process venues are notified so that close and casual contacts can be quickly established," the spokesperson said.
"NSW Health only confirms venues where there is an ongoing public health risk and where contacts cannot be established.
"If this site is confirmed as being a risk, then the community will be advised. The best advice is to keep an eye on the NSW Health venue website and our Facebook page."
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here . If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.