Western NSW struggling to contain Covid pandemic as Dubbo and Wilcannia record positive cases

Authorities are rushing to get in front of a Covid outbreak in Dubbo before it spirals out of control, but locals are asking why more wasn’t done to prepare for the virus.

Once a day Dubbo farmer Katie Cox logs her three children onto their virtual lessons just long enough to download the day’s school work.

There’s little-to-no mobile phone reception at her farm, and patchy internet means only one device can be connected at a time, so juggling working from home and three children’s schooling is a non-stop challenge.

Brad and Katie Cox on their farm with James, 4, Edward, 7, and Georgia, 2. Picture: Dean Marzolla

“We have communication disadvantages, no mobile service, satellite internet with really low downloads — we aren’t sitting on the NBN with unlimited downloads,” she said.

“While we can make do for a couple of weeks, if we are still in lockdown during November, I don’t know.”

While the virus rages through town, Katie’s partner Brad is keeping the isolated farm running despite constant delays in supplies as truck drivers negotiate ever-changing restrictions.

What is expected to be a bumper harvest after years of drought is marred by delays and the loss of seasonal workers, not to mention the mice plague still impacting farms.

“Lots of people are negative in Dubbo about this, like how did it get here in the first place, why didn’t they lock us down and we don’t have the health services that Sydney does,” Mrs Cox said. “But we have to be positive people because we’ve been through three years of drought and then we get the first crop and then we get the mouse plague — it’s in our nature to be positive and it helps in any situation.”

Long queues for drive-through Covid testing at Dubbo showground, as Bella Duke, 12, akes her turn. Picture Dean Marzolla.

The arrival of the Covid pandemic has unsettled their part of their world.

It wasn’t something they had prepared themselves for — and it is clear the region’s infrastructure wasn’t ready either.

The residents of western NSW are far from services, mainly unvaccinated and not able to access the same technology and convenience of those who live east of the Blue Mountains.

They say not nearly enough was done to prepare for Covid’s arrival.

Dubbo locals also say it’s almost impossible to get groceries delivered or click-and-collect orders fulfilled at the moment, with many supermarket staff in isolation.

In Wellington, about an hour south of Dubbo, Adam Ryan said ­anxiety was high in his Indigenous community about the “unknown”.

Indigenous anti-smoking campaigner Adam Ryan is in isolation at home in Wellington. Picture: Dean Marzolla

“We are worried for the young ones and the elderly, this one seems to be running like wildfire through the kids,” said Mr Ryan, an Indigenous anti-smoking campaigner.

“A lot of the mob, a lot of the kids, live with uncles, aunts or grandparents so that’s a big concern. It would be devastating to the max because a lot of the communities don’t have the facilities to accommodate if a whole lot of people needed hospitalisation … there would be a lot of people not getting the services they need.”

Mr Ryan said a lot of country ­people were struggling to access the Pfizer vaccine and tensions were high, with people frustrated by the booking system and long wait times.

Vaccine hesitancy was still a major concern, with large numbers still wanting to wait for Pfizer instead of using the more available AstraZeneca.

“I’m still seeing people say they are hesitant, it’s a bit early, they don’t want to get it yet,” Mr Ryan said.

“But it’s a bit more in your face now that we are faced with so many numbers out here, so it might have scared a few people and now they are doing the right thing.”

Dubbo Mayor Stephen Lawrence said after no previous cases in the community a sense of complacency had set in.

Defence force personnel outside a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Dubbo on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

“To be frank, a lot of us I think had a sense of complacency and we didn’t make our appointments at a time when there was quite a lot available,” he said.

On Friday Dubbo recor­ded 21 new cases, with ­another three new cases in Wilcannia. There are now 148 cases recorded in Dubbo during this outbreak.

Police sources say Wilcannia is expecting a big jump in cases, putting the Aboriginal community on edge.

With at least 20 cases tipped to be confirmed, police are concerned about tensions in the town. “It’s continuing to be a real issue and we need to get in front of it,” Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.

A walk-in vaccine clinic opens today (Saturday) in West Dubbo, with residents warned to pack sunscreen and hats and prepare for a long wait.