Goulburn's Imaginations Early Education childcare shuts after COVID cases

Imaginations Early Education Childcare at Poidevin Place, Marys Mount, has responded quickly after receiving advice on Friday that a a parent had tested positive to the virus. Three children also subsequently returned positive results.

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Owners Kelly and Greg Boydell said the children had attended the centre over four days last week. Under the facility's COVID plan, parents only drop off the children and do not enter.

Southern NSW Health District has advised that everyone has been contacted, tested and was isolating and as such, it was not notified as a venue of concern. In addition, there have been no further cases at this stage.

Mr Boydell he immediately notified the Department of Education.

"As the parents only bring the children to the door, our initial concern was for the staff who met them," he said.

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"...The staff would have only had to isolate for 14 days and one to be quarantined but when the three children tested positive, it turned it on its head."

The Public Health unit has notified all parents, as did the Boydells on Saturday once the children's test results were confirmed.

"Both NSW Health and the Education Department have been very supportive and proactive so it didn't take long for them to give us all the information," Mrs Boydell.

The centre closed its doors as a result and was undergoing deep cleaning on Monday. The closure could last 14 days but this was dependent on advice.

The 75-place facility was running at about two-thirds capacity. It also employs 18 people, about 15 of whom are impacted by the incident.

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"I feel very sorry for our staff and parents who are now in isolation for 14 days," Mr Boydell said.

"It's nobody's fault, just a really unfortunate situation in which everyone was caught up."

Meantime, Goulburn residents turned out in force for testing over the weekend. Long lines were reported at Goulburn Base Hospital's clinic on Saturday.

On Sunday, the clinic tested 231 people while Capital Pathology performed 241 tests at its Bourke Street drive-through facility, the Health District advised.

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Eleven positive COVID-19 cases were announced over the weekend, including four on Saturday and seven on Sunday. It takes the total to 29 active cases for Goulburn.

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