The University of Newcastle has announced two students have tested positive for COVID-19.

In an email to students and staff, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Hoffman said the two were living in campus accommodation at the time, and are now under the care of NSW Health officials.

Several close contacts of the COVID-positive students have been identified by NSW Health, and have been tested and ordered to self-isolate. 

Student accommodation at the University of Newcastle has been listed as an exposure site. Source: The University of Newcastle

The new cases come a day after NSW Health announced that stores at Westfield Kotara and Charlestown Square were new exposure sites. Corset Bar and Supper Club in Hamilton was also identified this morning as having hosted a COVID-positive person.

There are now 17 known exposure sites in the region, and Newcastle testing clinics are reportedly turning people away as long lines cause traffic chaos in the region.

Those at McDonald Jones Stadium and the Gateshead Laverty Pathology Drive-Through Clinic were reportedly experiencing a two-hour wait before officials closed the areas to further testing to mediate increased traffic in the area.

The University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus clinic is also no longer accepting residents for testing as a result of extended wait times and traffic queues.

Extensive queues at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday morning.

NSW Health has set up a seperate pop-up clinic at John Hunter Hospital for those listed as close contacts to get tested.

A full list of the region’s exposure sites:

CHARLESTOWN

  • *** Apple Store, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.10pm to 3.50pm 
  • *** Boost Juice, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.52pm to 3.56pm 
  • *** Cotton On, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.57pm to 3.58pm 
  • *** Jay Jays, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.58pm to 4.13pm, and 4.54pm to 4.59pm
  • *** Priceline Pharmacy, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 4.20pm to 4.25pm 
  • *** Glassons, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 4.26pm to 4.41pm 
  • *** Supre, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 4.43pm to 4.53pm 
  • *** Factorie, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 5.02pm to 5.08pm
  • *** Charlestown Square Food Court (Guzman y Gomez and McDonald’s) on 29 July from 5.09pm to 5.44pm 
  • *** Ground Level Newsagency, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.16pm to 3.22pm, and 4.18pm to 4.24pm 
  • *** Pearl Nails, Charlestown Square on 29 July from 3.23pm to 4.18pm.
  • *** Nextra Newsagency, Charlestown Square on Thursday 29 July 3.15pm – 3.22pm and 4.18pm – 4.24pm
  • * Cha Time, Charlestown Square on Tuesday 2 August from 12.41pm – 12.44pm
  • * KFC, Charlestown Square on Tuesday 2 August from 12.45pm – 1.10pm
  • * Charlestown Square Foodcourt on Thursday 5 August from 12.41pm – 1.10pm

KOTARA

  • * JD Sports, Westfield Kotara on Wednesday 28 July from 3.30pm to 3.40pm
  • * K-Mart, Westfield Kotara on 28 July from 3.40pm to 3.50pm.
  • *** Barber Industries, Westfield Kotara on Thursday 5 August from 1.30pm to 2pm.
  • * Cha Time, Westfield Kotara on Thursday 5 August from 2.06pm – 2.11pm
  • * Prouds, Westfield Kotara on Thursday 5 August from 1.59pm – 2.06pm

HAMILTON

  • *** Corset Bar and Supper Club on Wednesday 28 July between 7.30pm to 10pm

BROADMEADOW

  • *** XPT service, Broadmeadow – Werris Creek, Werris Creek – Armidale on Thursday 29 July 2021. The train left Broadmeadow at 11.40am and arrived in Armidale at 5.30pm on the same day

NEW LAMBTON HEIGHTS

  • *** John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department on 5 August at 8.42pm until 6 August 1.50am.

SHORTLAND

  • * 7 Eleven Service Station on Wednesday 28 July from 9pm – 9.05pm
  • * 7 Eleven Service Station on Friday 30 July from 3.15am – 3.25am
  • * 7 Eleven Service Station on Sunday 1 August from 4.37am – 4.47am
  • *** Shortland Hotel and Bottlemart, Shortland on Thursday 29 July from 9pm – 12am

CALLAGHAN

  • *** Any residents or visitors to International House, Callaghan Campus, University of Newcastle between Wednesday 28 July – Saturday 7 August
  • * Oval 2 (soccer match), University of Newcastle on Wednesday 4 August from 5.30pm – 6.42pm

MARYLAND

  • *** Ampol Service Station on Friday 6 August from 4.30am – 10am

TORONTO

  • * Ampol Service Station on 2 August between 9.12am – 9.14am

MAITLAND

  • Maitland Christian School

MORISSET

  • Morisset High School

Anyone who attended these *** locations around the times listed is deemed a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result. They are urged to call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health.

Anyone who attended these * locations around the times listed is deemed a casual contact (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts). They must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received.

Maia O’Connor