Thirty-one people have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a wedding in Stanwell Tops, in Australia's New South Wales earlier this month, news.com.au reports.
A pregnant woman and a liberal senator were among the guests in attendance at the wedding on March 6. Both have since been infected with the contagious virus.
Yesterday, (Wednesday, March 18), NSW chief health officer Dr. Kerry Chant confirmed the news, according to the publication.
News.com.au reports that 21 of the COVID-19-positive guests are from New South Wales and five are residents in other states.
Four of the people who were infected with the virus did not attend the wedding but instead were infected by guests they were in close contact with.
"NSW Health has worked with other states and territories to notify attendees at a wedding held at Stanwell Tops on March 6 of their potential exposure to COVID-19 and the need to quarantine themselves until March 20," a New South Wales Health spokesman said, per news.com.au.
Having recently returned from their honeymoon in the Maldives, Scott Maggs, and Emma Metcalf, the bride and groom are reportedly now waiting for their test results.
"We actually got a text, saying: 'We need to fill you in that two people have been confirmed with coronavirus,'" Mr. Maggs told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.
Senator Andrew Bragg confirmed his diagnosis on Twitter, writing: "I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus."
Pregnant Sally Hawach also tested positive after attending the wedding, she revealed on Instagram.
"As you can imagine this is extremely stressful. I am 30 weeks pregnant and have a 2yo and a 1yo," she wrote on Instagram.
"My 1yo is showing signs of COVID also and is extremely sick. I am very distressed at the thought of having possibly infected anyone. I have contacted everyone I think I have been in touch with. But please if you have been in contact with me since March 6th or anyone with COVID or you show signs of sickness please self isolate.
"Self isolate anyway. If you’ve been in touch with a confirmed case and show signs of COVID please do a test immediately. COVID is serious. COVID can be lethal and it is spreading fast. Let’s stay calm but please also take isolation seriously and look out for those around us. Sending love to all."
The official Facebook of Tumbling Waters Retreat, the venue of the wedding, has made a statement explaining that the news has caused "damage" to its business.
She wrote:
"Further to the news reports on COVID- 19 wedding guests at Tumbling Waters Retreat I have just received a call from the NWS Health Department assuring me that the guests that attended the wedding on the 6 th March 2020 that tested positive were not contagious during the time they spent at Tumbling Waters Retreat....please can you spread the word as you can imagine the damage this has done to our business."