A further 12 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in Hunter New England Local Health District residents in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
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Hunter New England Population Health public health physician, David Durrheim said this brings the total number of cases in the District to 262 since August 5, 2021.
RELATED: Lockdown continues for Mid Coast LGA
Of the new cases:
- Four are from Newcastle LGA, three are from Lake Macquarie LGA, four are from Port Stephens LGA and one is from Cessnock LGA.
- Nine cases were infectious in the community.
- Six are linked to known exposures or family clusters, while six cases are still under investigation.
Dr Durrheim said late yesterday evening (Wednesday), the district was notified of a person who tested positive to COVID19 in Narrabri. "This case will be confirmed in tomorrow's case numbers," he said.
"This person is a Queensland resident who recently visited Sydney before travelling to Narrabri, where they work. They are now being cared for in Tamworth.
"The case was infectious while in the community, so we are asking anyone in that community to come forward for testing even if they have very mild symptoms."
A drive-through COVID-19 testing facility has been set up at Narrabri Hospital commencing today.
A number of new casual contact venues have been confirmed.
| Woolworths, Nelson Bay
- Monday, 30 August from 7.20pm to 7.35pm
- Wednesday, 1 September from 6.15pm to 6.40pm
- Saturday, 4 September from 4.00pm to 10.00pm
| Woolworths, Medowie
- Tuesday, 31 August from 6.00pm to 6.15pm
- Friday, 3 September from 9.55am to 10.25am
| Woolworths, Stockland Shopping Centre Greenhills, East Maitland
- Sunday, 29 August from 11.40am to 12.00pm
- Friday 3 September from 10.30am to 10.45am
| Coles, Salamander Bay - Saturday, 28 August from 4.40pm to 5.00pm
| Subway, Cameron Park - Shop 3/119 Stenhouse Drive - Wednesday, 1 September from 10.20am to 10.30am
| Prince of Wales Tavern (Bottle Shop), Muswellbrook - Thursday, 2 September from 6.25pm to 6.30pm
| TSG (Southside Newsagency), Muswellbrook - Friday, 3 September from 11.10am to 11.20am
| Chemistworks, Glendale
- Friday, 3 September from 3.45pm to 3.55pm
- Saturday, 4 September from 3.50pm to 3.55pm
- Saturday, 4 September from 4.20pm to 4.25pm
| Thornton News and Post, Thornton Shopping Centre
- Monday, 30 August from 3.10pm to 3.15pm
- Monday, 30 August from 3.25pm to 3.45pm
NSW Health contacts close contacts of all confirmed cases and directs them to be tested and self-isolate for 14 days from last contact, regardless of the result.
Dr Durrheim said there has been another detection of COVID-19 viral fragments in the Tamworth and Glen Innes sewage catchments. This points to a person with recent past or current infection in those communities.
"We ask everyone in Tamworth and Glen Innes to remain vigilant and to look out for any minor symptoms and get tested."
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to immediately get tested. Even people with mild symptoms, such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose, should arrange testing as quickly as possible.
All testing sites can be located via www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics.
Those who have also attended any of the exposure sites listed on the HNE Health Facebook page and the NSW Government website at the specified times and dates should also seek testing, regardless if they have symptoms or not and follow the NSW Health directions.
Dr Durrheim said it is also important that anyone who is currently isolating in the community with COVID-19, calls for an ambulance should they experience a deterioration in their condition, including breathlessness and dizziness.
Hunter New England Health continues to urge eligible people to come forward for vaccination (providing they are not cases, contacts of cases, are not isolating, and do not have symptoms). People can check their eligibility and make bookings via the Commonwealth Government's eligibility checker.
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