Hunter Covid: 59 new local cases as statewide infections continue to fall
The Hunter has seen a small decline in the number of new Covid cases, while statewide infections have also fallen.
Newcastle
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The Hunter recorded 59 new Covid cases on the public holiday while Muswellbrook’s seven-day lockdown will not end as scheduled on Tuesday.
Covid infections were recorded at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens and Muswellbrook.
Forty of the cases were linked to known infections and 26 were infectious in the community.
Twenty-two Hunter people are in hospital with Covid and one is in intensive care.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 1194 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5.
NSW Health confirmed Cowra and Port Macquarie would be lifted from their seven-day lockdowns on Tuesday as scheduled. Muswellbrook was not among the local government areas where NSW Health said stay-at-home orders would ease.
A number of new casual exposure venues were identified across the Hunter, with people who visited at the specified times ordered to isolate until they receive a negatived Covid test result.
The venues included the Belmont vaccination hub on Tuesday, September 28 from 12.15pm-1.15pm and Thursday, September 30 from 9am-10.30am; Hunter Imaging Group East Maitland on Monday, September 27 from 8.55am-9.15am; and McDonalds Muswellbrook on Wednesday, September 29 from 1pm-1.20pm.
Statewide, 623 new cases were recorded and six people from Greater Sydney died.
EARLIER
On Sunday
Hunter Covid spike as NSW cases dip
The Hunter New England region has recorded a spike of 81 cases of Covid-19 as NSW numbers dipped to 667.
The Hunter New England Local Health District has now recorded a total of 1135 cases since the August 5 outbreak.
Of the new cases:
• Thirty-one are from Lake Macquarie LGA, 15 are from Cessnock LGA, 12 are from Maitland LGA, nine are from Newcastle LGA, six are from Port Stephens LGA, four are from Muswellbrook LGA, two are from Singleton LGA, one is from Dungog LGA, one is from Tamworth LGA and one is from Gunnedah LGA.
• Thirty-four cases were in isolation for their entire infectious period, 34 were infectious in the community, and 14 are still under investigation.
• Fifty-seven cases are linked to known exposures or clusters, 13 are unlinked, and the source of 12 cases is under investigation.
HNELHD is urging anyone with the mildest of symptoms to get tested.
“We are urging anyone in the Taree South, Bushland areas and surrounding communities who may have been in contact with a positive Covid case who visited the area from September 29 to October 1... to test and isolate" until they receive a negative result.
EARLIER
On Saturday
Hunter’s total Covid outbreak surges past 1000
The Hunter has hit a bleak milestone, recording its 1000th case since the outbreak of the Delta strain in August.
Up to 8pm, the Hunter New England Local Health Dstrict recorded 65 new cases and a man in his 80s from Lake Macquarie died with Covid.
It comes as NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty announced the state had recorded 813 cases in the same period.
The total number of Hunter cases in the current outbreak now stands at 1053.
Twenty six of the infected people were active in the community, 31 were isolating and eight remain under investigation
Of the cases recorded overnight 40 are linked, 17 are unlinked, and eight are still under investigation.
25 are from Lake Macquarie LGA
- 5 in Mount Hutton
- 3 in Warners Bay
- 2 in Blackalls Park
- 2 in Charlestown
- 2 in Marks Point
- 2 in Toronto
- 2 in Windale
- 2 in Wyee
- 1 in Bolton Point
- 1 in Cardiff
- 1 in Dora Creek
- 1 in Gateshead
- 1 in Teralba
21 are from Newcastle LGA
- 4 in Jesmond
- 3 in Hamilton
- 3 in Wallsend
- 2 in Hamilton North
- 2 in Mayfield
- 2 in Warabrook
- 1 in Adamstown
- 1 in Birmingham Gardens
- 1 in Cooks Hill
- 1 in New Lambton
- 1 in Waratah
13 are from Maitland LGA
- 3 in Rutherford
- 3 in Woodberry
- 2 in Maitland
- 1 in Beresfield
- 1 in Bolwarra Heights
- 1 in East Maitland
- 1 in Metford
- 1 in Thornton
2 are from Port Stephens LGA
- 1 in Medowie
- 1 in Lemon Tree Passage
1 is from Cessnock LGA
- 1 in Kurri Kurri
1 is from Mid-Coast LGA
- 1 in Purfleet
1 is from Muswellbrook LGA
- 1 in Muswellbrook
1 is from Singleton LGA
- 1 in Singleton
ON FRIDAY
The Hunter’s Covid case numbers have remained high with a further 69 infections recorded on Friday.
The cases were spread across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Dungog, Port Stephens and Muswellbrook.
Thirty-six of the cases were linked to known infections and 37 were infectious in the community.
Sixteen Hunter people are in hospital with Covid including two in intensive care.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 988 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5. Of those, 658 remain active.
Statewide 864 new cases were recorded and 15 people from Greater Sydney have died.
THURSDAY:
Covid outbreak at major hospital’s neonatal ICU
Six Covid-19 infections have been linked to the neonatal intensive care unit at John Hunter Hospital.
Four mothers and two fathers who visited the unit and maternity ward have tested positive for the virus.
Hunter New England Health’s Dr Paul Craven said none of the unit’s premature babies had so far contracted the virus.
“The babies in the neonatal intensive care unit have been assessed as a low-risk for exposure, however, multiple tests have been undertaken, with all babies testing negative for Covid-19,” Dr Craven said.
“The babies continue to receive high quality care from our dedicated nursing staff and neonatologists.”
The outbreak has forced dozens of family members and NICU staff into isolation.
Dr Craven said all staff were wearing personal protective equipment and have so far tested negative, and the unit had been deep cleaned.
“Parents in isolation have access to the NICU’s NICView camera system, which allows them to log on and see their baby 24-hours-a-day,” he said.
“The operation of the NICU is unaffected and staff continue to abide by strict COVID-safe protocols.
“Parents who are unaffected continue to access the Unit to spend time with their babies.”
Meanwhile, there are now 600 people infected with Covid-19 in the Hunter, New England region, with a further 82 new cases announced on Thursday.
The fresh infections also saw a spike in Cessnock, which reported 19 new cases including seven in Kurri Kurri and five in Weston.
Of the fresh cases, 48 are linked, nine are unlinked and 25 remain under investigation.
There were 34 infectious in the community and 27 isolating.
The new cases take the total number in the current outbreak to 919 and there are 598 close contacts in isolation.
Lake Macquarie recorded 21 new cases, Cessnock 19, Newcastle 17, Maitland 17, Port Stephens 4 and Mid-North coast 4.
Hunter New England Health public health controller Dr David Durrheim urged Hunter residents to stay at home.
“Eighty-two cases of Covid-19 in the Hunter New England health region, not a record that we are happy with and obviously we are finding that the virus is widely spread through suburbs throughout Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens and Cessnock LGAs,’’ Dr Durrheim said.
“Where are we seeing these cases. We are seeing them in young families, we are seeing them in adults, young adults, social groupings and we are seeing them in industrial workplaces.
“And so the call now is really to all community members – keep the stay-at-home orders in the front of your minds.
“The virus is ubiquitous, it is everywhere and you may encounter the virus if you go out into the community.’’
Premier Gladys Berejiklian also announced that schools would begin to reopen on October 18, a week earlier than planned.
Exposure sites
There has been a few new exposure sites which have been identified in the Hunter.
Anyone who attended these venues on the specified dates and times are considered casual contacts, unless they have been notified by NSW Health as a close contact, and urged to get tested and isolate immediately until a negative test is received.
McDonald’s, Wallsend (in-store customers only) on Monday September 20 from 10.05am-4.05pm and Wednesday September 22 from 8am-4.05pm
Priceline Pharmacy, Westfield Kotara on Saturday September 25 from 11.55am-12.20pm
Chemist Warehouse, Mayfield on Saturday September 25 from 8.45am-9.05am
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