The COVID-19 virus has been detected in sewage across the MidCoast local government area, including Forster, Hallidays Point, Harrington, Hawks Nest, Old Bar, Taree and Wingham.
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A further 54 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in Hunter New England Local Health District (HNEH) residents in the 24 hours to 8pm last night (Thursday, October 28).
This includes 10 recorded in the MidCoast Local Government Area (LGA) - five of the cases are from Taree, two from Forster, two from Tuncurry, and one from Tea Gardens.
Hunter New England Population Health public health physician, Dr David Durrheim said a number of the cases in the MidCoast LGA are in children due to the number of outbreaks in schools.
"We know how popular the Mid Coast is as a holiday destination, and with crowds of people likely to be arriving very soon it is very important that we make sure we keep in place those measures that have kept us safe," Dr Durrheim said
HNEH continues to urge the community to get vaccinated and keep coming forward for testing should they experience any symptoms.
Dr Durrheim said the new cases bring the total number in the district to 2944 since August 5, 2021.
Of the new cases:
- Fifteen are from Newcastle LGA, 10 are from Mid-Coast LGA, seven are from Lake Macquarie LGA, six are from Cessnock LGA, six are from Tamworth LGA, four are from Port Stephens LGA, three are from Maitland LGA, two are from Singleton, and one is from Armidale LGA.
- Twelve cases were in isolation for their entire infectious period, 36 were infectious in the community, and six are still under investigation.
- Thirty-nine cases are linked to known exposures or clusters, nine are unlinked, and the source of six cases is under investigation.
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.
Recent sewage detections
Recently, HNEH have been notified of detections of COVID-19 virus fragments from the Armidale, Curlewis, Forster, Hallidays Point, Harrington, Hawks Nest, Moree, Old Bar, Quirindi, Taree, Uralla and Wingham sewage treatment plants.
Dr Durrheim said HNEH is urging everyone in these areas, and not only in this specific catchment area, to come forward for testing even if they have the mildest of symptoms so we can identify any unknown cases in the community and reduce transmission.
We remind our communities that, while we may be fully vaccinated, infection is still possible and we can still transfer the virus to someone we love, including small children who are ineligible for vaccination, or vulnerable people in our community, Dr Durrheim said.
People should not go to work and get tested if they are experiencing any symptoms.
Exposure venues
Anyone who attended the following site on the specified date and times are casual contacts (unless they have been notified by NSW Health that they are a close contact) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received:
| Allan's Mens Hairdressing - 30 Pearson St, Charlestown on Saturday 23 October from 9.55am to 10.15am
| Cessnock Courthouse (public waiting areas) on Wednesday 20 October from 9am to 3.35pm
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.
NSW Health alerts close contacts of all confirmed cases and directs them to be tested and self-isolate for the required period for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
All testing sites can be located via www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics.
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, headache, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose, should arrange testing as quickly as possible.
Walk-in vaccination clinics available across the district this week
HNEH is continuing to urge people to come forward for vaccination (providing they are not cases, contacts of cases, are not isolating, and do not have symptoms). Bookings can be made via the Commonwealth Government's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder and a number of walk-in opportunities are also available:
Weston
- Finding Yellow, 92 Station Street
- Friday 29 October
- 10am - 4pm
- Walk-ins - no bookings required
- Open to 12 years and over
Inverell
- Linking Together Centre, 17 Wattle Place
- Friday 29 October
- 9am to 3pm
- Walk-ins - priority will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 12 years and older
- Transport is available for Aboriginal families - bookings 6721 9777
- Transport is available for Aboriginal families and bookings can be made on 6721 9777. This clinic is a collaboration between Armajun Aboriginal Health Services, the University of New England and Hunter New England Local Health District.
Booragul
- Lake Macquarie High School, 16 Marmong Street
- Sunday 31 October from 10am to 1pm
- Walk-ins - no bookings required
- Open to 12 years and over
Children aged 15 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged over 18 years. We ask that those attending a vaccination clinic wear a mask, bring their Medicare card and ID (drivers licence, student ID).
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