Orange staff, contacts and residents have rushed to COVID-19 testing centres after it was revealed a Sydney man who visited a Summer Street restaurant has tested positive.
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The man, 18, visited a BWS bottle shop in Berala, a hotspot area, before going on a camping trip to Broken Hill and Nyngan and attending the Birdie Nosherie and Drinking Est between noon-2pm last Sunday.
Testing hours have been extended at the Orange Showground drive-through facility and the Orange Hospital Fever Clinic was opened to cope with the demand for testing.
He woke up, had a little bit of a runny nose and went out and got a test
- Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer
A queue at the showground grew to about 50 cars once news of the case was released on Tuesday.
After filling out two forms people were swabbed by one of four testers. A long, thin cotton bud was swirled around the mouth and then inserted into each nostril.
Those tested were told to isolate immediately until they received a result.
Both centres will be open again from Wednesday morning.
The restaurant has had to close for a deep clean. Staff were told to get tested and isolate for 14 days after the positive case was detected.
Birdie co-owner Leah Morphett said about 25 people were in the restaurant at the time plus staff.
She said the man was part of a small group. "They were definitely sitting inside," she said. "They visited the bathroom as well."
Ms Morphett said they wanted everyone to know of the situation to ensure people got tested.
She said the restaurant had followed strict COVID-19 protocols.
Health authorities have begun contact tracing.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the man came forward for testing after he received a text message from NSW Health about the Berala bottle shop.
"They got a text from us, saying you had been in that BWS on the 24th," Dr Chant said.
"He woke up, had a little bit of a runny nose [Monday], and went out and got a test and did the right thing. This gentleman was totally unaware of the issues, [but] acted promptly on our text message."
She said his trip companions had also come forward for testing and were waiting for results.
A Western NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said there were currently no confirmed cases in Orange.
"A person who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 travelled from Broken Hill through Nyngan and Orange on Saturday January 2 and 3 while infectious," she said.
"Any person that presented at [Birdie] in Orange on Sunday 3 January between noon and 2pm are advised to get tested immediately regardless of symptoms, and self-isolate for a full 14 days since they were there, and have a repeat test if symptoms occur and again at the end of the isolation period."
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