Covid update - Thursday

Not surprisingly given the number of ongoing cases in our region, the Deputy Premier has just announced that local restrictions will continue in our region for at least another two weeks.

- See links to financial support below in this post

Another 12 new cases were reported in the Hunter Region in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

This brings the total number of cases in the local outbreak to 262. There are currently 123 active cases in the region, which means that 138 local people have now fully recovered from the virus and the local death toll remains at 1 in the current outbreak.

Of those new cases:

3 are from Lake Macquarie LGA

1 in Catherine Hill Bay

Was isolating while infectious

Linked to household contact

1 in Dora Creek

Was infectious in community

Linked to a community member

1 in Woodrising

Was infectious in community

Unlinked. Investigations ongoing

4 are from Port Stephens LGA

4 in Nelson Bay

All 4 were infectious in community

Unlinked. Investigations ongoing

4 are from Newcastle LGA

2 in Adamstown Heights

Were isolating while infectious

Linked to household contact

1 in North Lambton

Was infectious in community

Linked to a workplace

1 in Kotara

Was infectious in community

Unlinked. Investigations ongoing

1 is from Maitland LGA

1 in Heddon Greta

Was infectious in community

Linked to Upper Hunter mine

Nine local people are currently being cared for in hospital, with one of those people in ICU.

There are 456 close contacts of local cases who are in isolation.

STATEWIDE: There were 1405 new cases reported throughout NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Sadly, five more deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours, all in the Sydney region.

HOSPITALISATIONS: There are 1175 people currently being treated for Covid-19 in NSW hospitals, with 202 in ICU and 80 requiring ventilators.

EXPOSURE SITES: HNE Health has released details of a number of new exposure sites, including several linked to the case at Mt Pleasant mine yesterday. The new sites are located at Muswellbrook, Nelson Bay, Medowie, Salamander Bay, Cameron Park, Cooks Hill, Glendale, East Maitland and Thornton. You can read more details of those sites here.

ISOLATION PAYMENTS: The State Govt has extended the 'test and isolation' payments to people in our region. This $320 payment is available to casual employees who lose paid work hours while awaiting Covid test results. More details here.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES: All Lake Macquarie businesses are eligible to apply for the range of Covid-related financial assistance offered by the State Government. This is the same assistance offered to businesses in Sydney and elsewhere in NSW. Some businesses have asked me why the $7500-$15,000 grants offered to Sydney businesses weren't extended to our region, but the simple answer is that those grants were offered only for a three-week period when the Sydney outbreak began. More importantly, they were replaced by the JobSaver payments available now. More details on the assistance available is on my website here.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR WORKERS: Individuals who have lost work hours are also eligible for the Covid-19 Disaster Payment. More details here.

TESTING: Testing numbers in the local area are again low. Please get tested if you experience the mildest of symptoms, particularly if you've been near any of the exposure locations.

QUESTIONS: Please see my Facebook or Website pages for answers to frequently asked questions. Service NSW also has a 24/7 hotline where people are available to answer questions. You can reach them on 13 77 88.

STAY SAFE, stay vigilant, and stay home unless you absolutely have to go somewhere.