Covid cases stabilise as Southern Highlands remains locked down

The number of Covid cases in the Southern Highlands has stabilised as the region remains under stay-at-home orders.

NSW Health has confirmed the number of Covid cases in the Southern Highlands has remained steady at 13. This is the peak of the Covid cases reported in the area since the second wave began, with a total of 19 cases reported since June.

Yesterday NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the Southern Highlands will remain locked down after the number of cases has continued to rise.

The number of Covid cases in the Highlands rose to 13 yesterday, with ten of those cases still under investigation for unknown sources.

Eight of the cases are in the 2575 postcode, three are in the 2576 postcode and one is recorded in the 2579 postcode.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announces the state has recorded 1,405 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases overnight. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

There have been no new venues of concern in the Highlands. The only venue of concern recorded on the NSW Health website is the Supa IGA in Moss Vale on Clarence St on Monday 30 August from 4.15pm to 4.45pm.

While stay-at-home orders have been lifted for large areas of the state, the Wingecarribee Shire will remain at home due to these increased numbers.

Mr Barilaro said the decision to lift the restrictions in certain areas was based on the number of cases and the advice from NSW Health. He reminded regional communities high vaccination rates will be essential to lifting the lockdown orders throughout the state.

“My strong advice to everyone in regional NSW is to get vaccinated as soon as you can,” he said.

“Our communities need to continue to get vaccinated so that when NSW reaches 70 and 80 per cent, restrictions can ease significantly.”

He urged communities to continue their efforts to ensure the state can begin to open up later in the year.

Despite the announcement, the Deputy Premier said surges of Covid in the newly opened regional areas would trigger a return to stay-at-home measures for at least 14 days.

“One case is one case too many in the regions,” he said.

Yesterday NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced five new cases of Covid in the Southern Highlands, bringing the total case numbers in the region to 12.

Patients who have visited Regal Medical Centre are urged to get tested for Covid immediately. Picture: Adam Yip

Four of the cases are in the Woodlands area and one is in Mittagong.

The increase in cases comes as a medical centre in Mittagong continues to urge patients to undergo Covid tests after a doctor and nurse returned positive tests over the weekend.

Regal Medical Centre in Mittagong confirmed it has arranged for immediate testing for 10 staff and their families after a doctor and a nurse both returned positive results over the weekend. All of the affected people are in isolation, a statement from the Centre said.

Anyone who visited the centre last week (from August 30 to September 3) is considered a close contact and is urged to get tested and self-isolate. It is estimated hundreds of people may be affected.

A statement from Regal Medical Centre said staff are trying to contact as many patients as possible but urged anyone who’s come to the centre in the past week to get tested. It is currently undergoing a deep cleaning and is expected to reopen on September 20.

Tuesday 7 September

The number of Covid cases in the Southern Highlands has risen to seven, according to NSW Health. Only three of those cases have a known source, with the remaining four under investigation.

Mr Barilaro confirmed there are two new cases in the Southern Highlands Tuesday – one in Mittagong and one in Exeter.

While the exact location of the remaining cases has not been disclosed, four of the current Covid cases are located in the Mittagong postcode, 2575, and the remaining three are in the Bowral postcode, 2576.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro addresses the media after NSW recorded 1,220 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases overnight. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Covid traces were also detected in the sewage of both Bowral and Mittagong catchment areas when tested on September 2.

Covid traces were not found in Moss Vale sewage on that date. Moss Vale residents should be wary a positive case was at a local supermarket when infectious.

Anyone who has been at the Ashcroft’s Supa IGA at 11-13 Clarence St Moss Vale between 4.14pm and 4.45pm on Monday August 30 should immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

The rise in local Covid cases comes after the September 1 announcement that a man in his 60s with Covid died in his Southern Highlands home. The news was reported on Monday, although the man reportedly died the week before.

Southern Highlands residents are urged to continue to be vigilant and get tested if they have any symptoms at all.

Residents can get tested at Bowral and District Hospital on Bowral St in Bowral or at Mittagong Respiratory Clinic on Bowral Rd in Mittagong.