Coronavirus: Ryde and Macquarie Park hot spots to get more tests
Two coronavirus suburban hot spots will receive expanded testing resources from NSW Health in a bid to reduce local community transmission.
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- COVID-19: Sydney’s first dedicated respiratory clinic opens
- COVID-19: Time-restricted parking zones axed
- 13 Sydney church attendees test positive to COVID-19
Ryde and Macquarie Park are two coronavirus hot spots where NSW Health will be expanding testing in a bid to reduce local community transmissions as the number of confirmed cases across NSW rose to 2637 cases.
Due to a drop off in tests at the weekend a NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty encouraged the community in identified hotspot areas to get tested if they have respiratory symptoms.
“Because there has been a drop off in tests over the weekend we want to encourage increased testing in those communities where we’ve seen even a few cases of transmission, Mr McAnulty told reporters on Monday.
“We are extending testing and encouraging doctors and patients who have got symptoms of acute respiratory infection so cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or fever in areas where we’ve seen some evidence of local transmission to go to their GP or testing clinic for testing,” he said.
The announcement comes as more than 460 people have tested positive to COVID-19 in Sydney’s north.
Sydney’s north has had the highest number of tests with 18492 tests being taken and of that figure there have been 468 confirmed cases, according to the latest NSW Health data.
That breaks down to 48.96 cases every 100,000 residents giving a 2.53 per cent positive rate.
To date, there were 65 confirmed cases in Ryde.
There were also two coronavirus clusters in Ryde’s local government area; stemming from transmissions at Dorothy Henderson Lodge starting from February 24.
To date, there were five deaths and 22 confirmed cases including both residents and staff members at the Macquarie Park aged care home.
A second cluster started at a church service held at Ryde Civic Centre on March 8 where initially four people tested positive including the evangelist.
To date, 19 infections were reported from this cluster, according to NSW Health.
Nearby Hunters Hill recorded 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while Canada Bay which includes Drummoyne, Concord and Rhodes had 16, as of the latest NSW Health results.
FULL LIST OF CONFIRMED CASES ACROSS SYDNEY’S NORTH BY LGA (Local Government Area)
Ryde - 65
Hunters Hill - 16
Canada Bay - 16
Willoughby - 22
Lane Cove - 33
North Sydney - 45
Mosman - 38
Hornsby - 44
Ku-ring-gai - 59
Northern Beaches - 139
Source: NSW Health as of statistics from 8pm April 4