NSW Health says Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello has been forced back into quarantine after he was provided incorrect advice about the nature of his exposure to coronavirus.
The NSW minister was told he was a close contact along with dozens of other politicians when Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive to COVID-19 after attending a Paddington pizza shop and attending a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, June 22.
However, Mr Dominello was then permitted to leave quarantine on Saturday, June 26, after he returned a negative coronavirus test and was reclassified as a casual contact.
That change in classification was blasted by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who was still deemed a close contact of Mr Marshall.
Mr Barilaro is quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald as saying he had a “two to three minute” conversation with Mr Marshall whereas Mr Dominello was in Mr Marshall’s office and interacted with the infected minister during Question Time.
“But for some reason his interaction, which he has admitted to, has been interpreted differently and I think this honestly shows it is a lucky dip … it depends which contact tracer you get on the end of the phone,” Mr Barilaro said.
After reassessing the situation, NSW Health announced on Wednesday evening that Mr Dominello was once again being considered a close contact and he immediately re-entered isolation when contacted by health officials.
There was some concern after Mr Dominello appeared alongside Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant at a press conference in the afternoon.
But NSW Health confirmed an urgent COVID-19 test was performed on Mr Dominello when he went back into quarantine and this again returned a negative result.
