Covid update - Friday

Another 38 new cases were reported in the Hunter Region in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 8 in Lake Macquarie. These new cases take the total number in the local outbreak to 600.

OF THOSE NEW CASES:

• 8 are from Lake Macquarie LGA

- 3 in Cardiff

- 2 in Toronto

- 1 in Mount Hutton

- 1 in Cooranbong

- 1 in Morisset

• 14 are from Newcastle LGA

- 3 in Merewether

- 1 in Mayfield

- 1 in Wallsend

- 1 in Elermore Vale

- 1 in Newcastle

- 1 in Hamilton South

- 1 in New Lambton

- 1 in Jesmond

- 1 in Islington

- 1 in Kotara South

- 1 in Newcastle West

- 1 in Warabrook

• 7 are from Cessnock LGA

- 6 in Weston

- 1 in Branxton

• 5 are from Maitland LGA

- 3 in East Maitland

- 1 in Rutherford

- 1 in Thornton

• 2 are from Port Stephens LGA

- 2 in Raymond Terrace

• 1 is from Muswellbrook LGA

- 1 in Muswellbrook

• 1 is from Mid-Coast LGA

- 1 in Darawank

(**Case numbers in a particular suburb do not automatically mean there are exposure sites in that suburb. For example, those cases may have been linked to a household case and were already isolating at the time of testing positive. All current exposure sites are on the link below.)

STATUS AND CLOSE CONTACTS: Of those new cases, 15 are linked, 13 are unlinked and 10 are still under investigation. Unfortunately, 19 were infectious in the community, while 9 were isolating while infectious. A further 10 are still under investigation.

We now have 773 close contacts in the local area who are in isolation.

ACTIVE: There are currently 373 active cases in the local region.

19 local people are being cared for in hospital. One is in ICU.

LOW-RISK EXPOSURE SITES: As you may have heard in the media, Hunter Health is no longer listing low-risk casual contact exposure sites of less than 15 minutes. I understand community concern on this but I'm comfortable with Health's advice for a number of reasons. Primarily, there has been zero transmission of the virus in any of the low-risk casual contact sites previously named anywhere in the State. This new approach to listing sites is also in line with all other health districts statewide. Sites which have been exposed for longer than 15 minutes, or potentially have clear risk of casual and close contact transmission will continue to be reported as usual. Two such sites were named overnight at Mayfield and Newcastle West. More details on those HERE.

STATEWIDE: There were 1043 new cases reported throughout NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Sadly, another 11 deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours.

There have been 277 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021 and 333 in total since the start of the pandemic.

HOSPITALISATIONS: There are now 1186 people currently being treated for Covid-19 in NSW hospitals, with 232 in ICU and 110 requiring ventilators.

VACCINATION RATES BY POSTCODE: The latest vaccination rates by Lake Macquarie postcode are available on my website HERE.

STATEWIDE VACCINATION RATES: Across NSW, 84.1% per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 56.6% per cent are fully vaccinated to 11.59pm on Wednesday 22 September 2021.

VACCINATIONS FOR HSC STUDENTS SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE STAFF: Walk-in vaccinations are available today at the Belmont vaccination hub for all HSC students as well as school and child care staff. No appointment is necessary, just roll up with your Medicare card and work or student ID any time before 5.45pm today.

TESTING: Given the high local number of cases, testing has again become absolutely crucial to stop the spread. Hunter Health and its teams of tracers have been hampered by people waiting to get tested despite being symptomatic for sometimes 6-7 days. When they've tested positive, this has automatically put tracing efforts more than a week behind from the start. Please don't be complacent. If you experience any symptoms, please get tested as soon as possible.

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.