Essential workers in NSW have been urged to stay home if they feel sick after an unwell Sydney aged care worker kept working before testing positive to COVID-19.
The worker at Anglicare's Newmarch House aged care facility in Caddens, in western Sydney, went to work while showing symptoms of illness for six days.
She has since tested positive for the coronavirus, as has a resident of the facility.
Another resident is still awaiting test results, Anglicare Sydney said in a statement on Monday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was important not to cast blame before the facts had been established.
"Obviously it’s of huge concern and very disappointing if someone who has the disease keeps working," she said.
"We can’t cast blame automatically, let’s wait for the facts. What if the person did not know that they had it. That’s a concern."
"If anything intentionally was done that’s a huge issue and police will look into that," she added.
Newmarch House staff, who were in close contact with the resident or their colleague, are self-isolating at home while all residents are in self-isolation in their own rooms.
On Monday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard implored people not to go to work if they are sick.
"If you're feeling sick, and you're working in an aged care facility, you're working with some of the most vulnerable people in our state. Please don't go to work," he told reporters on Monday.
"Unfortunately, the potential is disastrous consequences."
The woman who tested positive also worked two shifts at Greystanes Disability Services in Leura, with all residents now isolating in their own rooms and six staff in self-isolation at home.
NSW had recorded nine new cases of coronavirus on Monday, taking the total confirmed cases to 2863.
The state recorded two more COVID-19 deaths, taking the NSW COVID-19 death toll to 26.
A 74-year-old woman died in John Hunter Hospital and a 79-year-old man died in the Northern Beaches Hospital.
Both were passengers on the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which is linked to hundreds of COVID-19 cases nationwide.
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If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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