Hunter Covid: 63 new cases, as 6pm lockdown looms for Muswellbrook
Rolling coverage: Muswellbrook will enter a seven day lockdown starting at 6pm on Tuesday. It follows news of the Hunter’s 63 new Covid cases which is a single-day record for the region.
NSW Coronavirus News
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Muswellbrook has been plunged into a seven-day lockdown as of 6pm Tuesday, after the Hunter added a record 63 Covid cases.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard earlier flagged Muswellbrook as one of three regions which could be plunged back into lockdown alongside the Mid-North Coast town of Port Macquarie.
Both Port Macquarie and Muswellbrook residents, along with anyone who has been to both local government areas since September 17 and September 22 respectively, have been ordered to stay at home.
Everyone in these LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home.
A NSW Health spokeswoman said to determine the extent of the risk and detect any further potential COVID-19 cases in these areas, authorities are calling on the communities to come forward for testing in large numbers.
“A strong response to testing will be a key factor in determining if these stay-at-home orders are extended beyond one week,” she said.
The stay-at-home order for Kempsey LGA will be lifted, as scheduled, at midnight tonight. However, this order may be reintroduced if new information indicates an increased public health risk.
The news of the regional lockdowns comes as a record number of Covid cases were announced for the Hunter on Tuesday.
A further 63 positive results were recorded, 19 cases at Newcastle, 18 in Lake Macquarie, 13 in Maitland, 6 in Port Stephens, 4 in Cessnock, 1 each in Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
38 of the cases were linked to known infections and 35 were infectious in the community.
Fourteen people are in hospital none in ICU.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 782 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard indicated there will be talks Tuesday afternoon as to whether some parts of the state, including Muswellbrook, could go back into lockdown, “putting the community on notice”.
Statewide, 863 new cases, with seven deaths recorded. There have been more than 130,000 Covid tests.
While 85.7 per cent of the state has had their first dose of vaccination, 60.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Hunter New England Health Public Health Controller Dr David Durrheim said “it’s a big number”, with the transmission at workplaces a concern.
“We’ve seen a lot of transmissions in family groups, in households and between social groups, and we are seeing the emergence of clusters in work places,” Dr Durrheim said.
“This is similar to what we saw in western and southwestern Sydney, industrial sites and fast food outlets are particularly important in the Hunter New England region.
“We really plead with people, do not go to work if you’ve got any symptoms or you are a close contact of somebody with Covid.
“If we get symptoms at this point when we see these larger numbers in the Hunter New England region, it probably does mean its Covid. Please don’t take it and spread it around.”
Exposure sites
Three more new Covid exposure sites have been listed across the Hunter.
Anyone who attended these venues on specific dates and times, unless contacted by NSW Health as a close contact, should immediately get tested and isolate until a negative test is received.
*Marsh Carney Saddlery, Scone on Thursday September 23 from 11.50am-12.10pm
*Pharmacy Select, Muswellbrook Fair Shopping Centre on Wednesday September 22 from 12-12.20pm, and Thursday September 23 11-11.15am
*Hungry Jacks Beresfield (in-store customers) Thursday September 23 from 3.45am-12.35pm, and Friday September 24 from 4.40am-2.45pm
Lockdown looms for parts of Upper Hunter as Covid returns
Monday, September 27
Deputy Premier John Barilaro is expecting the Upper Hunter communities of Singleton and Muswellbrook to fall back into a seven-day lockdown, following new cases of Covid-19 reported in the communities overnight.
Mr Barilaro told NewsLocal NSW Health was meeting to determine the fate of the regions “as we speak” with a decision set to be decided by Monday afternoon.
“Hopefully this afternoon we will be able to put out a press release in relation to who is going into lockdown and who may come out,” Mr Barilaro said.
However, the Deputy Premier said new cases didn’t seal the fate of communities facing a further seven days in lockdown.
“We measure every single thing, not just cases, but exposure sites, the infectious rate and what the circumstance of each case is,” he said.
“And we are getting closer to the 70 per cent road map and we’ll even have a look at vaccination rates but Health will make those decisions this afternoon.”
Mr Barilaro said cases in Singleton and Muswellbrook were raised with him by NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant as “areas of concern”.
Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim also said “mystery” cases were beginning to show in the Upper Hunter.
“Even though they may not be at stay-at-home (orders) right now, the virus is very close,” Dr Durrheim said.
“We know people travel regularly for work … and they may take the virus with them.”
It comes as the Hunter has recorded a further 46 Covid cases in a new record for the region.
The cases were at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens and Muswellbrook.
Twenty-eight of the cases were linked to known infections and 23 were infectious in the community.
“Most of the transmission is occurring in social groups,” Dr Durrheim said.
“It’s people who know each other, people who are getting together, not wearing masks, people who are spreading it to friends and family.
“A number of our cases have been infectious in the community and symptomatic in the community while they’ve been moving around, and unfortunately that gives Covid the opportunity of rapidly spreading.”
Thirteen Hunter people are in hospital and one is in intensive care.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 719 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5.
Statewide, 787 new cases and 12 people from Sydney and Wollongong have died.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings at Newcastle Courthouse were abandoned on Monday after a positive Covid case visited the Hunter St precinct.
Defendants and legal representatives arrived for a usual 9.30am start to find the building locked and a sign on the door that read ‘court closed’.
A lone sheriff said all other staff including judicial officers had been sent home.
A NSW Courts staffer further told The Newcastle News the closure came after “Covid at the court” and all matters listed for Monday would be adjourned to later dates.
The Department of Communities and Justice confirmed the closure in a statement
“Newcastle Courthouse will be closed for cleaning today, Monday 27 September, due to a Covid-19 exposure,” a spokeswoman said.
“Staff have been notified and are following NSW Health advice.
“Safety is our number one priority and remains at the forefront of our decision-making while Covid-19 continues to pose a risk.
“We are working hard to keep the justice system free from Covid-19, with safety measures in place.
“All matters due to be heard today will be relisted. Please contact the NSW Court Service Centre at nswcsc@justice.nsw.gov.au.”
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