Hunter Covid: 16 new cases for region, University of Newcastle records sixth infection
Rolling coverage: The Hunter recorded 16 new cases, and a frustrated police commander warned people not to ignore public health orders after dishing out 113 fines on Sunday.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The University of Newcastle has confirmed the Callaghan campus’ sixth Covid-19 case, with a close contact of a previously confirmed case testing positive.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said the student had been isolating and had since been moved into the care of NSW Health.
International House remains locked down after the cluster broke out in late July.
“I continue to be pleased and proud by the way that we are supporting each other,’’ Professor Zelinksy said in a statement.
“This week we will see our University mobilise to support vulnerable communities across our regions where it is safe for us to do so. We particularly share in the concern for Aboriginal communities in the west of NSW and our University stands ready to help.’’
Meanwhile, a clearly frustrated Northern Regjon police commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna has warned officers will ramp up Operation Stay At Home after 113 more people were fined for breaching public health orders across the Hunter on Sunday.
The breaches included a get-together at a Beresfield street party on Sunday afternoon where six adults and a group of children were in a Pasedena Crescent driveway having a barbecue.
All the adults - four women and two men - were handed fines.
“I just don’t know if it is ignorance or if it is absolutely blatant flouting of the law,’’ Mr McKenna told reporters on Monday afternoon.
It came after a police dog was needed to track down partygoers who had fled a Jesmond address on Saturday when police arrived following calls from the public.
The Hunter recorded 16 new Covid cases overnight to Monday, taking the region’s total to 116 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak.
The new cases take the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 120, although no new cases were recorded in the New England region.
Of the new cases, eight were from Maitland, five from Newcastle, two from Lake Macquarie and one from Port Stephens.
Thirteen were linked to known cases and three are under investigation.
Six were in the community while infectious and two were linked to the aged care cluster.
But it wasn’t al bad news, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro telling regional reporters the number of Hunter cases wasn’t as alarming as expected.
“They were all in isolation or through close contacts so it’s what we expected,” he said.
“I can assume that this morning Dr Kerry Chant was relieved by the data of Hunter and New England.”
Mr Barilaro said when it came to being released from lockdown, Newcastle was not linked to what was happening in Sydney.
“Today’s news is good for the Newcastle and Hunter area,” he said.
He said he would look at individual LGA case numbers, along with sewage and contact tracing surveillance, when deciding whether to release certain areas from lockdown after the mandatory week.
“If there is no concerning data, it will be an easy decision to bring an LGA out of lockdown,” he said.
He said the Upper Hunter was not concerning at this stage, however indicated that LGA’s adjoining areas with high case numbers may stay in lockdown.
Mr Barilaro said increased fines had already resulted in an influx of questions to the government on what people can and can’t do.
“The penalties are significant … they are making people fearful,” he said.
He said he was confident the new penalties would be enough to restrict unnecessary movement.
Statewide, 478 locally-acquired cases were recorded, along with seven deaths.
MONDAY’S ROLLING COVERAGE
Close contact alert for church
At 6pm
A Waratah church has been added to the Hunter’s close contact list, with the longest exposure time yet for any venue in the region.
Anyone who was at Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David over a two week period from Saturday, July 31 to Sunday, July 15 must immediately seek testing and isolate for 14 days, and wait for advice from NSW Health.
Sixth case for university
At 4pm
The University of Newcastle has confirmed the Callaghan campus’ sixth Covid-19 case, with a close contact of a previously confirmed case testing positive.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said the student had been isolating and had since been moved into the care of NSW Health.
International House remains locked down after the cluster broke out in late July.
“I continue to be pleased and proud by the way that we are supporting each other,’’ Professor Zelinksy said in a statement.
“This week we will see our University mobilise to support vulnerable communities across our regions where it is safe for us to do so. We particularly share in the concern for Aboriginal communities in the west of NSW and our University stands ready to help.’’
Operation Stay At Home ramps up
At 3pm
A clearly frustrated Northern Region police commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna has warned officers will only ramp up Operation Stay At Home after 113 more people were fined for breaching public health orders across the Hunter on Sunday.
The breaches included a get-together at a Beresfield street party on Sunday afternoon where six adults and a group of children were in a Pasedena Crescent driveway having a barbecue.
All the adults - four women and two men - were handed fines.
“I just don’t know if it is ignorance or if it is absolutely blatant flouting of the law,’’ Mr McKenna told reporters on Monday afternoon.
It came after a police dog was needed to track down partygoers who had fled a Jesmond address on Saturday when police arrived following calls from the public.
Mr McKenna said officers were stopping between 500 and 800 cars a day as they enforce the strict rules.
“Some people don’t take this seriously,’’ he said.
“They have to take this seriously. We need people to understand that when they are doing the wrong thing, even [if they think] ‘I don’t have the virus or the person I am with doesn’t have the virus’, [that] the virus is indiscriminate.
“You don’t know where it is, you don’t know who has got it.’’
He also warned: “We won’t hesitate to give [fines] out. We don’t want to give them out but if people do the wrong thing they can expect to be fined.’’
The most fines on Sunday were in the Port Stephens-Hunter police district (41), followed by Hunter Valley (36), Lake Macquarie (34) and Newcastle City (2).
Good news for Hunter, says Deputy Premier
At 2.30pm
At a dedicated press conference for regional journalists, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said while there were 16 new cases in the Hunter New England region, the number wasn’t as alarming as expected.
“They were all in isolation or through close contacts so it’s what we expected,” Mr Barilaro said.
“I can assume that this morning Dr Kerry Chant was relieved by the data of Hunter and New England.”
Mr Barilaro said when it came to being released from lockdown, Newcastle was not linked to what was happening in Sydney.
“Today’s news is good for the Newcastle and Hunter area,” he said.
He said he would look at individual LGA case numbers, along with sewage and contact tracing surveillance, when deciding whether to release certain areas from lockdown after the mandatory week.
“If there is no concerning data, it will be an easy decision to bring an LGA out of lockdown,” he said.
He said the Upper Hunter was not concerning at this stage, however indicated that LGA’s adjoining areas with high case numbers may stay in lockdown.
Mr Barilaro said increased fines had already resulted in an influx of questions to the government on what people can and can’t do.
“The penalties are significant … they are making people fearful,” he said.
He said he was confident the new penalties would be enough to restrict unnecessary movement.
16 new Hunter cases
At 11am
The Hunter has recorded 16 new Covid cases, taking the region’s total to 116 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak.
The new cases take the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 120, although no new cases were recorded in the New England region.
Of the new cases, eight were from Maitland, five from Newcastle, two from Lake Macquarie and one from Port Stephens.
Thirteen were linked to known cases and three are under investigation.
Six were in the community while infectious and two were linked to the aged care cluster.
Calls for Hunter test and isolate payment
At 7.30am
The Hunter Workers’ Union has called for the test and isolate payment – a $320 payment to support workers who lose income while awaiting a Covid test result – to be expanded beyond Greater Sydney.
In an open letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Hunter Workers secretary Leigh Shears said Hunter people were losing money due to excessive test result turnaround times.
“Workers across our region are already experiencing significant time delays to get a test, with many not having an opportunity, in the first instance, to get tested due to shift work and the precarious nature of their employment,” Mr Shears said.
“Workers are left to cover the cost of the time lost, either by accessing they’re accrued entitlements, (if they have any left) and, for those under insecure working arrangements, losing pay for the entire period of isolation.
“Therefore, Hunter Workers, in the strongest terms, insists the NSW Government expand the test and isolate support payments to include Newcastle and the Hunter region.”
New exposure sites named
At 6.30am
The Hunter’s exposure site list has grown again with the below venues added by NSW Health late on Sunday.
People who attended the below venues are considered close contacts and must immediately seek testing and isolate for 14 days, and wait for advice from NSW Health:
- Sudania Cafe and Restaurant, Maitland on Saturday, July 2021 31 from 8am-2pm and Monday, August 2 2021 from 8am – 2pm
- Darby Raj, Cooks Hill on Wednesday, August 4 2021 from 7.13pm-7.15pm
People who attended the below venues are considered casual contacts and must isolate until a negative test result is received:
- PETQuarters, Broadmeadow on Wednesday 4 August from 11.08am-11.25am
- BWS, Jesmond Saturday 7 August from 12.45pm-12.55pm
- Tuesday 3 August from 5.48pm-5.58pm
- Chemist Warehouse, Mayfield on Saturday 7 August from 2.36pm-2.40pm
- Guzman y Gomez, Hamilton on Monday 2 August from 3.10pm-3.30pm
- Jesmond Fruit Barn, Jesmond on Saturday 7 August from 12.10pm-12.20pm
- Priceline Charlestown Square on Wednesday 4 August from 1.55pm-2.05pm
- The Reject Shop, Maitland on Monday 2 August from 9.03am-9.06am
- Coles, Branxton (Huntlee) on Friday 6 August from 6.25pm-6.35pm
- Caltex, Greta on Saturday, 7 August from 10.45am-10.55am
- Gadget Mall, Charlestown Square on Wednesday, 4 August from 1.04pm-3.45pm
- Charlestown Square on Wednesday, 4 August from 1.04pm-3.45pm
Join the conversation
‘I’ve lost my home’: New aged crisis as waitlists explode
John Martin OAM is 90 and has nowhere to go after his aged care home shuts. He’s one of thousands who are in limbo as waitlists of elderly people needing care explode. See the video.
Read more
Newcastle sale and auction results, week ending February 15
Newcastle recorded 15 property sales over a million dollars last week, the latest auction and sales results reveal.
Read more