Genomic testing has confirmed the COVID-19 strain acquired by a vaccinated Sydney hotel quarantine worker is the “more transmissible” UK variant, B1.1.7.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed on Monday that the 47-year-old man’s infection has been linked to the viral strain of a COVID-positive returned traveller who was in the Sofitel Wentworth quarantine hotel while infectious.
The man had worked as a security guard at both the Sofitel Wentworth and Mantra at Haymarket hotels in inner Sydney.
“Investigations have confirmed that this gentleman did work a shift on the same floor, floor 11, in the Sofitel, when the international returned traveller was infectious prior to them being transported to the Sydney health accommodation,” Chant told reporters.
“And genomic sequencing indicates that they are a match.”
Chant added that health authorities had reviewed CCTV footage and the worker was “exemplary in his adherence to the procedures for mask-wearing and other protections and precautions”.
How the virus was transmitted remains under investigation.
The infection marked the end of the state’s 55-day COVID-free streak.
No other new locally-acquired cases were reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, a number of venues across Sydney have been listed as potential exposure sites.
These include Pancakes on the Rocks at Beverly Hills, Bexley North, Heymarket, Hurstville including the T4 Train fro Hurstville to Central at certain times.