A Southern Highlands medical practice has reported a case of COVID-19.
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A Southern Highlands medical practice has reported a case of COVID-19.
The positive case was identified on August 31 in a doctor working at the Southern Medical Centre in Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale.
Centre principal Dr Vince Roche said the doctor-in-question had been tested on Friday as part of the doctor's regular monitoring
He said that at that point the test returned a negative result.
However, he said on Monday morning the doctor had become unwell with some "atypical symptoms".
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"We decided to test him immediately and send him home as a precaution," Dr Roche said.
"That test came back positive, and the doctor is now isolating at his family home."
It is believed that he most likely acquired the virus while in Sydney where he also worked at the weekend.
Dr Roche said that the doctor had consulted with three patients prior to being sent home.
He said those patients had been notified, tested and were isolating until they had received their test results.
Dr Roche said that two nurses, one administrative staff member and two doctors who had minimal contact with the infected doctor had also been tested and were waiting for results.
"We immediately did a deep clean of any areas of exposure, and all affected staff have been tested and sent home to isolate while waiting for test results," he said.
"Those staff had minimal contact with the positive case, but we have opted to take all possible precautions."
Dr Roche said that the centre had been considered a "low risk site" by the NSW Health Department due to the safety measures in place at all times at the practice.
This included staff wearing masks at all times and gloves when appropriate.
The Southern Medical Centre in Moss Vale remains open following a deep clean and isolation of anyone with a link to the positive case.
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