Ryde: Number of coronavirus cases stable despite increased testing
The number of coronavirus cases in Ryde has not increased over the past week despite a ramping up in testing in Ryde and Macquarie Park areas.
Northern District Times
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The number of coronavirus cases in Ryde has remained stable despite a ramping up in testing in the area over the past week.
There are currently 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ryde’s local government area (LGA) according to the latest NSW Health data as of 8pm April 13.
Analysis of the data reveals the figure has remained at 65 cases since April 4 despite going up briefly to 67 mid last week.
It comes a week after Ryde and Macquarie Park were announced as two coronavirus hotspots where NSW Health would expand testing in a bid to reduce local community transmissions.
Macquarie Park has now dropped off the list yet Ryde still remains a targeted area for increased testing.
NSW Health spokeswoman confirmed an area can be taken off if there is a reduction in COVID-19 cases of an “unknown origin.”
“An area is identified for further testing if there have been cases of community transmission of unknown origin. While some areas identified have very few confirmed cases of COVID-19 where the source of infection has not been found, NSW Health considers these areas to be at elevated risk of community transmission,” she told The Northern District Times.
“When surveillance has found a reduction in such cases, the area is removed from the list.”
Overnight there were just 7 new cases in New South Wales taking the number of confirmed cases to 2,870 statewide.
Earlier NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said the number of cases emerging in NSW on a daily basis continued to decline.
“But we take that number with caution today because we had slightly fewers tests on the Easter long weekend than we would’ve on a normal weekday,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday.
She said health officials will also be “ramping up” testing and contract tracing to control the spread of COVID19.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the increased testing areas were based on locations where confirmed cases had no clear links to clusters.
“We want to make sure assure ourselves there are not broader community transmission occurring in those areas,” Ms Chant said.
Sydney’s north has had the second highest number of tests, after South Eastern Sydney, with 2,249 tests being taken and of that figure there have been 508 confirmed cases, according to the latest NSW Health data.
That breaks down to 53.14 cases every 100,000 residents giving a 2.36 per cent positive rate.
It comes after two coronavirus clusters in Ryde’s local government area; stemming from transmissions at Dorothy Henderson Lodge starting from February 24.
There were at least 21 confirmed cases from both residents and staff members at the Macquarie Park aged care home where six residents have passed away after contracting the virus.
A second cluster started at a church service held at Ryde Civic Centre on March 8 where at least 19 tested positive.
Nearby Hunters Hill recorded 21 confirmed COVID-19 cases up from 16 last Monday, while Canada Bay which includes Drummoyne, Concord and Rhodes had 20, as of the latest NSW Health results.
List of confirmed cases across Sydney’s north by local government area (LGA)
Ryde - 65
Hunters Hill - 21
Canada Bay - 20
Willoughby - 21
Lane Cove - 37
North Sydney - 46
Mosman - 42
Hornsby - 48
Ku-ring-gai - 69
Northern Beaches - 151
Source: NSW Health as of statistics from 8pm April 13