Central Coast Covid: Holiday home loophole closed as one new cases announced
One new Covid case has been recorded on the coast. It comes as the holiday home ‘loophole’ will close on Saturday.
Central Coast
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The Central Coast has recorded one new case of Covid, bringing the region’s total to 35.
NSW Health has confirmed the case as part of the statewide total of 452 announced on Tuesday.
Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) said the local case was a “household contact of a previously identified case” who has been in isolation for their infectious period.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 75 per cent of the cases were aged under 40 and urged NSW residents to power ahead with vaccinations.
“Once we get to $6m jabs we can consider opportunities for what we may be able to do in September and October,” she said.
She said the community may be able to live more freely once that target is reached with NSW Health’s chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant currently looking into options.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro also reiterated the vaccination message.
“Don’t get caught up in the AstraZeneca versus Pfizer debate,” he said.
“We don’t want to see a future where any of our regional communities are left behind.”
The news comes as the “loophole”, which enables Sydney residents to move freely between their primary address and their holiday homes on the Central Coast, closes on Saturday.
Sydney residents in the 12 local government areas (LGA’s) of concern will also require a permit to travel to the coast for work or other essential reasons.
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said the permit system would limit people from travelling between a Sydney-based primary residence and a Central Coast-based holiday home.
“There have been too many Sydneysiders exploiting this loophole and potentially putting our region’s health and safety at risk,” Mr Crouch said.
“We are in the most critical phase of fighting COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Now is not the time for Sydneysiders to treat our community as a holiday destination.
“The permits will take effect on Saturday, 21 August and anyone who does not comply with the system or lies to authorities will cop a $5,000 on-the-spot fine.”
Permits can be accessed through Service NSW and will be required for owners of second homes, those inspecting real estate and authorised workers.
Under the current ambiguous public health orders Sydney residents can move freely between their home and holiday home under a ‘loophole’, which was supposed to allow travel between dwellings for `maintenance’ and another essential reasons.
It comes after Mr Crouch wrote to the Premier last week saying the existing orders “incentivises Sydneysiders to exploit this loophole”.
“While my local community is incredibly vigilant and regularly reports suspected wrongdoing to Crimestoppers, this must be addressed,” he wrote.
“I would appreciated if you can investigate this matter and determine whether this loophole can be `closed’ by amending the Public Health Orders.”
The Central Coast is expected to be listed a “regional area” when it comes to Sydney residents in the 12 LGAs of concern travelling into the area for work or other essential reasons.
EARLIER, Monday August 16
Another two confirmed cases of Covid have been recorded on the Central Coast.
The region’s total is now at 34 since the latest outbreak.
Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) has confirmed that both cases are “household contacts of previously identified cases and are part of the Lake Munmorah Public School cluster”.
“One case was infectious in the community,” a CCLHD spokeswoman said. “All close
contacts have been identified and are in isolation. Exposure sites linked to these cases have been reported previously and are listed on the NSW Health website.”
The coast cases are included in today’s NSW total of 478, which NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian described as “disturbingly high”.
“We can’t stress enough how hard all of us have to work,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian continued to stress the message of staying home, getting tested and getting vaccinated.
“It only takes a handful of people doing the wrong thing,” she said.
She said 70 per cent of cases are people under the age of 40.
“We know vaccines are working, it is important for us to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Earlier, Sunday August 16
The Central Coast has two new confirmed Covid cases with the region’s total at 32 since the new outbreak started.
NSW Health has announced the new cases from the region, which forms part of the state’s total of 415, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro saying one of the two Central Coast cases was in the community which was “of concern”.
Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) has confirmed that both cases are “household contacts of previously identified cases and are part of the Lake Munmorah Public School cluster”.
“One case was infectious in the community,” a CCLHD spokeswoman said.
“All close contacts have been identified and are in isolation.”
It comes after the coast recorded five new cases on Saturday, including one linked to a previously notified case, two linked to Lake Munmorah Public School and two household contacts of one of these cases.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the numbers were a welcome drop and announced that the state had reached five million people who have had their first vaccination.
“If you want freedom moving forward, stay home and get vaccinated,” she said.
“The future is in our hands, together we can do this. We have the choice to do the right thing, to follow the rules and get vaccinated.”
She said if people choose to do the wrong thing it would mean thousands of daily cases along with more deaths.
CCLHD has also advised of six new exposure sites. Anyone who attended the following venues on the dates and times listed is a casual contact who must be tested immediately until a negative result is received.
• Gwandalan Skatepark (Kanangara Drive, Gwandalan), August 7, 3pm to 4pm
• Woolworths, Lake Munmorah Shopping Centre, (Tall Timbers Road, Lake Munmorah)
– August 7, 12pm to 12.40pm
– August 12, 2.50pm to 3.30pm
– August 13, 8.40am to 9.15
• Lucky 7 – Munmorah Mini Mart (93 Anita Ave, Lake Munmorah), August 12, 3.10pm to 3.25pm
• Lake Munmorah Shopping Centre (Kemira Rd, Lake Munmorah), August 13, 10am to 10.30am
• Chain Valley Bay Liquor (35 Lloyd Ave, Chain Valley Bay), August 12, 3pm to 3.15pm
• Bunnings Lake Haven (Cnr Chelmsford & Pacific Hwy, Charmhaven), August 12, 8.50am to 9.15am
On Saturday, Central Coast Local Health District advised of two new exposure sites.
Anyone who attended the following venues on the dates and times listed is a casual contact.
Casual contacts must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received,
• Woolworths, Peninsula Plaza Woy Woy (63 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy), August 8 1.10pm to 1.55pm
• Deepwater Plaza (Railway Street, Woy Woy), August 11 11.40am to 12.20pm
New “stay at home” restrictions were put in place on Saturday afternoon and will remain until Sunday August 22.
Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave such as buying essential items, exercise or medical appointments.
They cannot have visitors in their home from outside, including family and friends.
However, people still can have one visitor at one time to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.
From 12.01am Monday, the 10-kilometre rule will be reduced with shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation to be done in either within the LGA or, if outside the LGA, within five kilometres of home.
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