HUTCHISON Ports Australia’s Sydney terminal became the second container terminal at Port Botany in less than a week to close after the detection of a positive COVID-19 case.

DP World Australia’s Botany terminal closed for about half a day last week after a COVID-19 case was detected in the workforce.

A spokesperson for NSW Health South Eastern Sydney Local Health District’s Public Health Unit told DCN they are aware of four confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst the workers of Hutchison Ports, Port Botany. DCN understands that two of the cases had not attended work while infectious.

“These cases were reported to the PHU between 14 and 19 September 2021,” the spokesperson said.

“The PHU is working with Hutchison Ports to identify workplace contacts of these cases.”

HPA confirmed to DCN that operations were disrupted on Saturday (18 September) after carrying out a deep clean of its Sydney terminal at Port Botany after two of its workforce there reported positive COVID-19 tests.

A spokesperson for HPA said, “After being informed of the situation, HPA made an immediate decision to close the terminal on Saturday and perform a deep clean of the workplace”.

“The company has been performing contact-tracing assessments of all staff while in contact with the NSW Department of Health. It has resumed operations with unaffected staff while continue to assess and monitor the situation.”

DCN understands that HPA sent workers home at 1030 on Saturday, after being notified of the positive COVID-19 tests, to enable the deep clean of the terminal.

One shift at the terminal was lost due to the closure for the deep cleaning; at 2000 on Saturday operations resumed with limited staff. Operations are continuing with limited staff who have not been in contact with the affected workers.

HPA said it is working with NSW Department of Health to perform contact tracing to determine casual contacts of the two infected employees.

In line with NSW Department of Health guidance, casual contacts who return a negative test are permitted to return to work. Those staff determined as close contacts of the two affected workers will be required to isolate for 14 days from the infectious period and be further tested.

This article has been updated to include comment and information from HPA and from NSW Health.