Covid update: Sunday

Things aren't improving, unfortunately. Another 45 new cases were reported in the Hunter Region in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 19 in Lake Macquarie. These new cases take the total number in the local outbreak to 673.

OF THOSE NEW CASES:

19 are from Lake Macquarie LGA

- 3 in Edgeworth

- 3 in Mount Hutton

- 2 in Blackalls Parks

- 2 in Bonnells Bay

- 1 in Toronto

- 1 in Cardiff

- 1 in Mirrabooka

- 1 in Dora Creek

- 1 in Lakelands

- 1 in Teralba

- 1 in Valentine

- 1 in Windermere Park

- 1 in Yarrawonga Park

15 are from Newcastle LGA

- 3 in New Lambton

- 2 in Mayfield

- 2 in Cooks Hill

- 1 in Wallsend

- 1 in Merewether

- 1 in Newcastle East

- 1 in Bar Beach

- 1 in North Lambton

- 1 in Islington

- 1 in Adamstown Heights

- 1 in Maryland

5 are from Cessnock LGA

- 3 in Kurri Kurri

- 1 in Weston

- 1 in Cessnock

4 are from Maitland LGA

- 2 in Tenambit

- 1 in South Maitland

- 1 in Farley

1 are from Singleton LGA

- 1 in Gowrie

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, 32 are linked, 7 are unlinked and 6 are still under investigation. Unfortunately, 28 were infectious in the community, while 11 were isolating while infectious. A further 6 are still under investigation.

We now have 737 close contacts in the local area who are in isolation.

ACTIVE: There are currently 439 active cases in the local region.

13 local people are being cared for in hospital. Two are in ICU.

LOW-RISK EXPOSURE SITES: A couple of new exposure sites reported overnight, including the Nikinpa Aboriginal Family and Child Care Centre at Toronto, and sites at Branxton, Cessnock, Kurri and Singleton.

As I've reported previously, 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. Firstly, there has been zero transmission of the virus in any of the low-risk casual contact sites previously named anywhere in the State. Further, this new approach to listing sites is 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 contract transmission, will continue to be reported as usual.

More details on the new sites are on my website (including a link to the full list at NSW Health HERE.

STATEWIDE: There were 961 new cases reported throughout NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Sadly, another nine deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours.

There have been 297 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021 and 353 in total since the start of the pandemic.

HOSPITALISATIONS: There are now 1146 people currently being treated for Covid-19 in NSW hospitals, with 222 in ICU and 117 requiring ventilators.

STATEWIDE VACCINATION RATES: Across NSW, 85.2 per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 59.2 per cent are fully vaccinated to 11.59pm on Friday 24 September 2021.

VACCINATIONS FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITY: Belmont Vaccination Centre is providing a walk-in vaccination clinic again today (Sunday) until 3pm for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. No appointments are required. More details on my website HERE.

TESTING: Testing centre at Morisset is open today. 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.