A Sydney laboratory at St Vincent’s hospital issued a public apology to 400 hundred people infected with COVID-19 that were told they were negative.
“SydPath last night incorrectly messaged more than 400 people, advising them they had tested negative to COVID,” SydPath said in a statement.
As a result, the positive individuals were infectious in the community. Many took to social media to complain about having unintentionally jeopardised the health and wellbeing of vulnerable members of their communities and families.
Breaking: St Vincent's Hospital Sydney launches emergency response after telling 400 people they tested negative for COVID when they are actually POSITIVE.⚠️ pic.twitter.com/0X1xmzj015
— Josh Bavas (@JoshBavas) December 26, 2021
The mistake was exposed as New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory prioritised medically mandated testing. At the moment all testing centres in Australia are under extreme stress due to the overwhelming influx of people needing to be tested. Clinics in central areas in Sydney and Melbourne has resorted to sending PCR tests interstate to be analysed while many have to isolate for over 90 hours while waiting for their results.
Breaking down the numbers:
- NSW has recorded it’s first death with the COVID-19 Omicron variant out of a total of 6324 new COVID-19 cases. Three deaths have been reported and 521 patients are in hospital today – an increase from yesterday’s numbers.
- Victoria has recorded 1999 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths with 368 people in hospital.
- Queensland has recorded 784 new COVID-19 cases, with just four people in hospital.
