Penrith Panthers now home to new vaccination clinic
Vaccinations at the new Panthers clinic are open to all within Penrith’s LGA between 16 and 39 years old.
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Panthers has just been announced the new home of Penrith’s Pfizer needs.
Young locals, aged 16 to 39, will be eligible for the jab at Penrith Leagues club after booking commence at 9am today.
Vaccines will be delivered from Monday onward.
Anyone withing the Penrith Local Government Area can book, including areas that are not listed as ‘suburbs of concern.
To book, please click here.
August 15 - About 1pm
49,000 Pfizer vaccinations on offer at Olympic Park vaccination centre for eligible authorised workers
Authorised workers are eligible to make bookings for a roll out of 49,000 Pfizer COVID vaccinations at Qudos Bank Area Vaccination Centre this week.
The vaccination hub, in Sydney Olympic Park, will vaccinate authorised workers aged 16-39 year old from western and south western Sydney.
Authorised workers are able to book their COVID-19 vaccinations for between Monday 16 August and Sunday 22 August.
This rollout follows the 15,390 first-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations administered to eligible year 12 students over the past week at the Qudos Bank Arena.
Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Graeme Loy encouraged people from western Sydney to get vaccinated this week.
“If you’re an authorised worker, book your vaccination, roll up your sleeve and get vaccinated – to protect you, your family, your workplace and our community from COVID-19,” Mr Loy said.
Authorised workers must be from the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Campbelltown or Parramatta or live in the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.
Some authorised workers aged 16 and over from the following the above listed local government areas and suburbs are able to access priority vaccination appointments. According to the NSW Government website, you are considered an authorised worker if:
Bookings are essential and both doses must be booked at Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre. For a full list of authorised workers and booking information visit here.
You must not attend your vaccination appointment if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. Please get tested and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result. You should also not attend if you are a close contact.
For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Program in NSW please go to nsw.gov.au/covid-19
As of Thursday, August 12.
Penrith’s New Mass Vaccination Hub
As of Monday, 16 August, Caddens NSW Vaccination Clinic will open at Penrith Baptist Church. The address is 3 – 11 Morello Terrace, Caddens NSW 2747.
Visits are arranged by appointment only. The clinic is open 7 days a week, 8am to 4pm.
To book an appointment at the new vaccination clinic, use the vaccine eligibility tracker.
This clinic will only administer AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations.
There will be six vaccination centres with the ability to administer almost 3000 vaccinations a week.
Those receiving AstraZeneca at the Caddens NSW Vaccination Clinic will receive their second AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dose 4-8 weeks after their first dose.
The hub was announced by Stuart Ayes this afternoon.
EARLIER - August 12, 11am
Three new retail hotspots in Penrith LGA
Chemist Warehouse, Dan Murphy’s Penrith and Officeworks Penrith are among the latest hot spot sites to be added to the NSW Government website’s exposure locations.
Chemist Warehouse Penrith, 1/457-459 High Street, was an exposure site on Wednesday, 4 August 2021 between 11:30am to 11:45am and Saturday 31 July 2021 between 1:15pm to 1:45pm.
Officeworks Penrith, 273 High St, was an exposure site on Wednesday, 4 August 2021 between 11am to 11:30am.
Dan Murphy’s (Corner Maxwell Street and The Northern Road) was an exposure site on Friday, 6 August 2021 between 7:30pm to 7:45pm.
Anyone at these location during those time frames must get tested immediately. Self-isolate until you get a negative result.
11 August 2021
St Marys aged care home goes into lockdown
A nurse at SummitCare St Marys has tested COVID positive, sending an aged care centre into lockdown.
“SummitCare St Marys has confirmed that a fully vaccinated nurse, who worked at the facility last Saturday and was COVID negative at the time, has tested positive overnight,” said a spokesperson for SummitCare.
SummitCare is confident that the virus hasn’t entered their St Marys centre, the spokesman said.
“We are confident Covid has not entered the premises and do not anticipate any further issues,” he said.
So far, there have been no other Covid positive results within the centre
“Residents and other staff, more than 95 per cent of whom are vaccinated, are currently showing negative results in testing,” he added.
“The facility has been in full lockdown and taken all precautions, like the use of PPE by staff and regular COVID testing, for many weeks.”
EARLIER - August 11, 11am
Statewide, NSW recorded 344 new locally acquired COVID cases in the last 24 hours up until 8pm last night.
115 of the locally acquired cases are linked to a known case or cluster. 97 are household contacts and 18 are close contacts. The source of infection for 229 cases is under investigation.
143 cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 36 were in isolation for part of their infectious period.
65 cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 100 remains under investigation. No new cases were acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is now 11,713. There have been two deaths of people with COVID-19. A man in his 30s from northern Sydney and a man in his 90s from south west Sydney.
We extend our sincere condonlences to their family and friends.
This brings the number of COVID-related deaths to 34 during the current outbreak, and the number of lives lost to 91 since the beginning of the pandemic.
There are currently 374 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 62 people in intensive care, 29 of whom require ventilation.
COVID-19 infections in Nepean Mental Health Ward
A COVID cluster in Nepean Mental Health ward emerged with multiple confirmed cases and staff have been asked to continue working despite being close contacts, the Sydney Morning Herald claims.
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District confirmed that two clients admitted to the Nepean Mental Health Centre had tested positive to COVID-19 and “additional cases”, linked to these clients, had also been identified.
An email was sent to staff on Tuesday afternoon that confirmed a COVID case and that staff who had worked in those times were considered close contacts.
Despite this revelation, the email still suggested that some staff, classified as close contacts, would be advised that they still needed to work.
An email sent to staff on Tuesday afternoon by the director of Mental Health at Nepean-Blue Mountains Local Health District Matthew Russell confirmed there had been “a COVID-positive consumer” and said staff who had worked in various parts of the unit since last Wednesday evening were considered close contacts.
Shockingly, the email suggested that some staff members who were classified as close contacts would be “advised” they still needed to attend work.
It is the second-largest hospital cluster currently active in Sydney’s outbreak, according to the SMH.
Tuesday August 10:
Penrith Astina apartment complex no longer in lockdown
Initially reported as an exposure site, it turns out Astina Apartments are no longer a hotspot.
“Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District undertook an urgent investigation into theAstina Apartments, in Penrith, after a confirmed COVID-19 case spent time at the location,” said a Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Spokesperson.
“A small number of people were immediately identified as potential contacts and advised to isolate. However, a thorough review now shows there is no public health risk at the venue or to those who were there,” they added.
Astina Apartments is therefore no longer considered a venue of concern.
All previously identified close and casual contacts are being contacted by NSW Health to inform them that they are no longer close or casual contacts.
Mulgoa bakery staff member tests positive.
Mulgoa Valley Bakehouse has announced on Monday evening that one of their staff members tested positive to COVID.
It was revealed the staff member worked on Thursday from 12pm - 6pm and Friday from 6am - 2pm.
In a later post, the bakery revealed that anyone who visited the shop on Thursday 5th August between 11.30am - 6pm and/or Friday 6th August between 5.30am - 2pm should get tested as soon as possible.
They also thanks the community for all the support and offers of help they’ve received since announcing the case.
Nepean man among COVID deaths
A man from Nepean is among the four people whose lives were claimed by COVID today, according to NSW Health.
The man, in his 70s, died at Nepean Hospital.
The others included a man in his 80s who died at Liverpool Hospital who contracted COVID as part of the Liverpool Hospital outbreak, a woman in her 80s who also died at Liverpool hospital and a man in his 80s who died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital who acquired his infection overseas.
The Penrith Press extends our condolences to the families and friends of those who passed.
These four deaths have raised the number of COVID deaths to 32, as part of the current outbreak, and to 89 overall since the start of the pandemic.
There are currently 357 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 60 people in intensive care, 28 of whom require ventilation across the state.
Monday, August 9:
Penrith has officially joined the list of hot spots after 12 suburbs in the LGA have become areas of concern and will now bear the brunt of additional restrictions.
Additional restrictions were applied to the following suburbs as of 5pm on Sunday:
Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.
People within these suburbs will have to adhere to the following additional restrictions:
Only obtain food or other goods and services within 5km of your home
Must exercise within 5km of your home
Cannot travel to other areas for work unless you are an authorised worker
Masks must be worn at all times outside your home regardless of proximity to others
The restrictions come as NSW recorded an addition al 283 new Covid cases.
Covid teesitng is now available at the Regatta Centre; Nepean Hospital; Penrith Laverty drive-through clinic at 3 Doonmore Street, Penrith; Penrith Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology drive-through clinic, 6 Mulgoa Rd, Penrith; Kingswood Clinical Labs Pathology; Penrith Respiratory Clinic, Jamisontown; Penrith Cranebrook Koolyangarra drive-through clinic; Blaxland Douglas Hanly Moir drive-through clinic, St Johns Oval; St Marys drive-through clinic, St Marys Leagues Club.
To check if you are an authorised worker, click here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/authorised-workers
For more information please visit http://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-area
Random acts of ‘cakeness’- A sweet treat for local businesses
A brand new Blue Mountains-based hospitality business, Baked by Blonde Butler, has taken it upon themselves to put a smile on the faces of those working in local hospitality businesses across Sydney.
In what can only be coined as ‘random acts of cake-ness, Baked by Blonde Butler owner - Alex Cadger - and his team delivered delicious ‘Lockdown Legends’ brownie slabs to 30 local bars, cafes and restaurants across the region.
Among the lucky locals are two businesses very close to home: Mr Watkin’s in Penrith and Con’s Continental Dell in Glenbrook.
Good neighbour program and Non-English speaking background residents at top of mind for Penrith’s Mayor this August lock down.
Penrith Mayor, Karen McKeown, is making sure no resident in her LGA gets left behind this lock down.
Penrith residents are ensured access to accurate information.
“We’re updating our website daily with the most up to date information. We have links to many different government departments where people can go for their bona fide information. Don‘t just rely on social media, go to the official websites,” she said.
The council has also developed a ‘good neighbour card’ which can be downloaded from their website. The special program encourages residents to upkeep community spirit in COVID safe ways.
“When you‘re out on your daily walk, you can pop it in someone’s letterbox who lives near you, who you think may be vulnerable. Have your details on there so they can contact or phone you and have a conversation. It might help if people are feeling a bit isolated and depressed,” she said.
“I've seen many examples of the Good Neighbour program where people have been in isolation for 14 days so the neighbour will go and pick up bread or milk or whatever is needed and drop it on the front doorstep for them. These are the things that Penrith does really, really well and we can support each other through it,” she added.
Speaking of being a good neighbour, Mayor McKeown, is looking out for people who come from non-English speaking backgrounds too,
“I think that may have been one of the failures in mid-June when some of the harsh lock downs came in place. I don‘t think we put our minds to how we’re going to reach out to our non-English speaking communities and ensure their safety as well,” the Mayor reflected.
This time, she has a plan.
“We are going to bring together most of our community leaders to make sure that people from non English speaking backgrounds get the support and the correct information they need in order to keep safe and keep their families and friends safe as well,” she said.
The mayor hopes that, with the help of these community leaders, this lock down will be easier than the last for a lot of residents.
“We do have a large non English speaking background, certainly from the subcontinent, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutanese. We also have large Filipino and Sudanese communities. So there’s quite a large mix and we want to make sure that we get to all those community leaders to be able to get the message out to them,” said Mayor McKeown.
For the wider community, the Mayor has this advice:
“Three messages. Stay home, get tested and get vaccinated. Let’s look out for each other and make sure that those people in our community who we know may be elderly, less mobile or a bit more vulnerable are looked after. We can do it.”
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