Hunter Covid: Six new cases recorded, alert for University of Newcastle International House
The Hunter has recorded six new Covid-19 cases, bringing the region’s total to 17, while students living at the University of Newcastle’s International House have been placed on alert.
Newcastle
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The Hunter region recorded six new Covid-19 infections overnight, bringing the region’s total to 17.
Two infections, an adult teen male and a male in his 20s, were linked to the Blacksmiths Beach party.
Two further cases, an adult teen female and a male in his 20s, were linked to the University of Newcastle.
One case, a teenage female, was a student from Morisset High School who was a close contact of a previously reported case.
Health officials are investigating the infection source for the sixth case – a man in his 30s from Raymond Terrace.
Armidale recorded one new case, adding to two cases there yesterday, bringing the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 20.
The state recorded 262 new locally acquired infections, with 72 of those infectious while in the community.
A woman in her 80s has died and 58 people are in intensive care.
Earlier students who reside on-campus at the University of Newcastle’s International House at Callaghan were placed on high alert after it was named as a Covid exposure site, with three cases of Covid-19 confirmed up until 8pm on Saturday August 7.
The University of Newcastle stated any on-campus students living in any block of the International House during any part of the day from July 28 to August 7 would be classified as close contacts and would need to isolate in their apartments for 14 days, until August 14.
Any other person who had visited the International House during that period was not considered a close contact, unless they had face-to-face contact or had been in the same physical space as a known case.
However, visitors who experienced symptoms were warned to get tested and isolate until a negative test was obtained.
Oval 2 at Callaghan Campus has also been listed as a venue of concern on August 4 between 5.30pm and 6.42pm, with advice that any person there at that time is considered a casual contact and should follow NSW Health advice to get tested immediately.
âš ï¸New exposure sites
— HNE Health (@HNEHealth) August 7, 2021
For close contact exposure sites https://t.co/qnUmfbBFiC
For casual contact exposure site https://t.co/zZJVU7ki0g
👇 Exposure site details pic.twitter.com/82hY8gQr6o
University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky sent an email to staff and students on Sunday highlighting support was available to those who needed it.
“We appreciate those of you who have sent messages of support to our impacted students living on Callaghan campus,” Mr Zelinksy said.
“We are passing these messages on so our students feel that support directly.
“We understand that in these circumstances, people seek information from a range of sources.
“In some cases, this can lead to misinformation being generated and spread, increasing anxiety and uncertainty and we urge you to only rely on trusted sources for information.
“If you have not been to the above venues of concern during the specified time periods, then continue to observe the relevant health orders in place for where you are living right now.
“If you have been to a venue of concern at Callaghan during the timeframes specified, then please follow the advice and also reach out to the support line or other services for your mental health and well-being.”
A University of Newcastle spokesman said due to Covid-19 impacts not all students living in International House were international students, and many were regional, domestic students.
The spokesman said the university was working to confirm numbers at the house during the exposure period.
On Saturday morning the university announced two students living on the campus had contracted Covid.
In a statement, it said: “NSW Health has advised the University of Newcastle that two students staying in our on-campus accommodation at Callaghan Campus have tested positive to Covid-19.
“NSW Health have transferred these students into their care, and we wish them all the very best as they now focus on their recovery.
“Several close contacts of these students have been identified by NSW Health, and these students have been contacted, tested, and moved into self-isolation tonight.
“NSW Health and the university is staying in close contact with these students to help monitor their health and support their wellbeing during their period of isolation.”
According to the university’s website International House “is a unique residential community that is traditionally home to a higher ratio of international student which enables its residents to meet and form close friendships”.
“Regardless of where you come from, International House welcomes students from across the world and promotes respect, participation and community spirit.”
Meanwhile NSW Police Regional NSW Field Operations Deputy Commissioner, Mick Willing, said police operations would be bolstered to stop Covid-19 spreading further into regional communities.
“It only takes one person doing the wrong thing to spread the virus, and it’s encouraging for police to continue to have the community’s support through the reporting of this type of selfish behaviour,” he said.
“I implore all regional communities to do what they do best in difficult circumstances – band together and support each other.”
On Saturday, NSW Health issued an alert for people who visited John Hunter Hospital after two confirmed cases of Covid-19 visited the Emergency Department.
And exposure sites issued at 5pm by Hunter New England Health were revealed as a train service, hotel and service station.
EXPOSURE SITES:
Anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, and await further advice from NSW Health:
- Star Nails Westfield Kotara on Thursday, July 5 from 12.56pm-1.59pm
- Shortland Hotel Shortland front bar and bottle shop on Wednesday, July 28 from 8.25pm-8.55pm
- Glassons Charlestown Square on Thursday, July 29 from 4.26pm-4.41pm
- Ampol Service Station Maryland on Friday, August 6 from 4.30am-10am
- Nextra News Agency Charlestown Square on Thursday, July 29 from 3.15pm-3.22pm and 4.18pm-4.24pm
- Barber Industries Westfield Kotara on Thursday, August 5 from 1.30pm-2pm
- University of Newcastle: Any student who has been a resident of International House, Callaghan Campus and been on campus between Wednesday, July 28 and Saturday, August 7 is also considered a close contact.
- University of Newcastle: Oval 2, Callaghan Campus on Wednesday, August 4 from 5.30pm until 6.42pm is considered a casual contact
Anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times is a casual contact (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received:
- Dominos Mayfield on Wednesday, August 4 from 6.30pm-6.45pm
- Metro Petroleum Williamtown on Friday, August 6 from 11am-noon
- KFC Charlestown Square on Monday, August 2 from 12.45pm-1.10pm
- Charlestown Square Foodcourt on Thursday, August 5 from 12.41pm-1.10pm
- Cha Time Westfield Kotara on Thursday, August 5 from 2.06pm-2.11pm
- Prouds Westfield Kotara on Thursday, August 5 from 1.59pm-2.06pm
- 7 Eleven Service Station Shortland Wednesday, July 28 from 9pm-9.05pm, Friday, July 30 from 3.15am – 3.25am, and Sunday, August 1 from 4.37am-4.47am
- Oval 2 soccer match, University of Newcastle on Wednesday, August 4 from 5.30pm-6.42pm
- Cha Time Westfield Kotara on Thursday, August 5 from 2.06pm-2.11pm
- Cha Time Charlestown Square on Monday, August 2 from 12.41pm-12.44pm
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