East Maitland's Windsor Castle Hotel owner Nic Quinn has closed the pub for a deep clean and is personally contacting every patron who visited the premises the same night a Sydney man, who tested positive for COVID-19, attended the venue.
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Mr Quinn has also sent his staff for COVID-19 testing and closed the hotel today (Wednesday) for a deep clean, despite NSW Health saying it was unnecessary.
Mr Quinn said he was only contacted late Tuesday afternoon by NSW Health about the situation - just half an hour before it made national news.
But despite NSW Health telling Mr Quinn no action was needed, he wanted to take every precaution.
"NSW Health think this was an isolated case of a man travelling from Sydney," Mr Quinn said.
"They are not concerned and said as a precaution for those who were here that night (Monday, July 13) and are showing symptoms to get a test.
"I am in the process of personally calling everyone who was here at the time to let them know," he said.
"NSW Health have advised that what we are doing is not necessary and over the top, but we think it's the right thing to do," Mr Quinn said.
Mr Quinn was one of the region's first hotel operators to implement mandatory temperature checks on patrons.
"We didn't have to do it, but I think public health and safety is paramount," he said.
Hunter New England Local Health District is also urging anyone who visited the Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on July 15 to watch for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested should any respiratory symptoms or fever occur.
The warning follows confirmation of a COVID-19 case in Port Stephens area. The new case is a man in his 60s, who is now in isolation. The source of infection was a visitor from Sydney.
The Sydney case also visited the Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland between 6-8 pm on July 13. Anyone who visited the hotel during this timeframe, and is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, should seek testing immediately.
"If you were at the Windsor Castle Hotel in East Maitland on the evening of 13 July or Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on 15 July you may be at risk of infection and you must be tested for COVID-19 even if you have the mildest of respiratory symptoms," said Dr David Durrheim, Public Health Controller for Hunter New England Health's COVID-19 response.
"Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to get tested.
"Even those with mild symptoms such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose are encouraged to arrange testing," he said.
Additional staff have been deployed to the nearby Tomaree Community Hospital COVID-19 clinic to increase testing capability. Please call 4964 7497 between 8am to-4pm to make an appointment, or seek a referral from your GP.
COVID-19 testing is also available at Maitland Hospital walk-in clinic, between 9am-4pm, 7 days a week.
Testing is also available through local GP clinics, and at a number of hospitals in the Hunter region.
