Coronavirus Lane Cove: COVID-19 cases rise, calls for more testing
Health authorities have named Lane Cove as a new hotspot for COVID-19, prompting calls for anyone with mild symptoms of the virus to come forward and get tested. It comes after a recent spike in cases locally.
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Lane Cove has been named a new hotspot for COVID-19 after a rise in confirmed cases of the deadly virus this month.
NSW Health on Monday added to the local government area to a statewide list where it encouraged people to come forward and get tested, including those with mild symptoms such as a fever or a soar throat.
The call comes after 10 people in the Lane Cove local government area were confirmed to have contracted the virus this month, brining the total in the LGA to 38.
NSW Health said testing would ensure “as many cases of COVID-19 in the community are identified as quickly as possible.”
“This is particularly important in several new areas (including Lane Cove) following a small number of locally acquired cases,” the department said.
Figures released on Saturday show five of the 10 cases confirmed in Lane Cove this month were believed to have been locally acquired. All five cases were reported from people living in the 2066 postcode, taking in suburbs including Lane Cove, Riverview and Longueville.
The likely source of infection in the remaining five cases has been traced to overseas sources, with three of the cases confirmed among residents in the 2066 postcode and two in the 2065 postcode, taking in suburbs including Greenwich, St Leonards and Wollstonecraft.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant also reminded those who work in health care or with vulnerable people and who have minimal symptoms to get tested.
“It’s critical that you come forward for testing as we know that the early detection of COVID-19 prevents and is a critical element of preventing further spread,” she said.
Testing centres in the Lane Cove area include dedicated facilities at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Construction is also underway on a $15 million COVID-19 recovery ward at the hospital due to open later this year.