Hunter Covid: 82 new cases as outbreak surpasses 1500
Rolling coverage: Health authorities warn residents to remain vigilant as the current Hunter outbreak has passed 1500, with more 1000 active cases as region records another 82 positive cases.
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The Hunter has recorded a further 82 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Friday, taking the total tally for this outbreak to 1532
The local government areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens and Singleton have again been affected.
Hunter New England Health figures released on Friday including a total of 97 confirmed cases across the health district.
This includes fresh positives at Tamworth, Gunnedah and the Mid-North Coast.
Of those new cases, at least 34 were infectious in the community with a 21 cases unknown.
Some 66 cases are linked, there are 30 active cases in hospital and four in ICU.
Lake Macquarie recorded 27 new cases with Cessnock (23), Maitland (17), Newcastle (6), Singleton (6) and Port Stephens (3) also recorded fresh cases.
Health authorities continue to work on an outbreak at two Merewether unit blocks after 15 cases had been reported by Thursday.
There is also a growing outbreak at the Baiada chicken processing factory at Beresfield, with 12 confirmed cases at the plant as of Thursday.
Comment is still being sought from Baiada.
Hunter New England Health public health controller Dr David Durrheim said the end of lockdown would give the virus more chances of spreading throughout the community.
“In the Hunter-New England region, most of our Covid cases are unvaccinated people under 40 years of age,’’ Dr Durrheim said.
“These are the group that are spreading the virus in the community.
“With the relaxation of measures, public health measures from next week, we know that the virus is going to get many more opportunities to spread.
“We lag behind in our vaccination coverage compared to the state coverage and people are rapidly taking up the opportunities to get vaccinated.
“But in the meantime, wee implore you, do not take the risk, do not gather in large groups, make sure you keep the social distancing, that face mask that has been protecting you, keep it on.
“Ask your friends are you vaccinated. Make sure that you don’t inadvertently expose yourself to Covid-19.’’
THURSDAY:
Authorities battling to stem Merewether unit block outbreak
Authorities are still investigating the original source of a Covid-19 outbreak within two blocks of Merewether units as the positive cases balloon to 15.
As the Hunter England Local Health District announced 83 fresh cases, including 71 in the Hunter, it confirmed that they were managing the outbreak within the Watkins Street housing blocks.
A statement said testing had commenced on site.
“Positive cases will be provided care by our clinicians and all close contacts must follow the Public Health advice to isolate and retest as directed,’’ the statement said.
“The original source is still under investigation and contact tracing is underway to identify all close and casual contacts of the confirmed cases, as well as any exposure sites that would pose a potential risk to the broader community.
“Hunter New England Local Health District is working with building management and NSW Police to implement measures to safeguard the health and welfare of the residents.
“The District has extensive experience in caring for vulnerable people with complex health and social needs.
“This includes providing vaccination clinics for vulnerable groups in the community.’’
Meanwhile, the fresh Hunter cases announced on Thursday were at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook.
“We continue to see relatively high case numbers,” NSW Health’s Dr Marianne Gale said of the region.
Other cases were recorded at Tamworth, Gunnedah and the Mid-Coast.
Sixty-five of the cases were linked to known infections and 39 were infectious in the community.
Twenty-six Hunter people are in hospital with Covid including three people in intensive care.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 1435 since the beginning of the pandemic on August 5. Of those, 969 remain active.
Statewide, 587 cases remain active and eight people from Greater Sydney and western NSW have died.
A cluster linked to John Hunter Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit has grown.
It was last week revealed six parents linked to the unit had tested positive for Covid.
Four additional people from those family groups have also tested positive, taking the cluster to 10 cases.
No staff or babies being cared for in the unit have so far contracted the virus.
WEDNESDAY:
Top doctor’s warning as Hunter hits grim Covid record
By Emily Burley
Hunter New England Health’s top doctor has warned Covid case numbers will keep climbing after the health district reported a record 93 infections – over 15 per cent of the state’s daily total.
“When it comes to Covid-19 we don’t like records and unfortunately we’ve got a new record,” Dr David Durrheim said.
“We can expect case numbers to keep going up particularly as we hear about living with the virus and relaxation of public health measures, case numbers will go up.”
Ninety of the health district’s cases were in the Hunter, including at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Port Stephens.
Three additional cases were recorded in the Mid-Coast and Tamworth local government areas.
NSW Health deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale said Cessnock, Wallsend and Merewether were among regional areas where residents needed to be on high alert.
“Be especially vigilant for symptoms, to come forward for testing and to please get vaccinated,” Dr Gale said.
“If you live in any of those areas I particularly encourage you to come forward.”
Sixty-seven of the cases were linked to known infections and 54 were infectious in the community.
Twenty-three Hunter people are in hospital with Covid including two in intensive care.
The cases take the health district’s total to 1352 since the Delta outbreak began on August 5. Of those, 922 remain active.
Statewide, 594 new cases were recorded and 10 people from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Edward River have died.
TUESDAY:
Covid vaccine push for Hunter to be ‘robustly protected’
By Amy Ziniak
A Hunter health expert has no doubt Covid will continue to spread across the Hunter when restrictions are lifted come October 11, dubbed ‘freedom day’.
As the Hunter recorded another 56 cases on Tuesday, Dr David Durrheim, Public Health Controller for Hunter New England Health said a double dose is the only way to ensure protection against the virus.
“There is a sense of anticipation in the community about how things can change. The only way we can really enjoy the next month in the sun is to make sure we’re all vaccinated,” he said.
“We all need two doses of the vaccine, that’s the only way we’re going to get on top of Covid-19 when restrictions are progressively lifted.
“A single dose only provides about 30 per cent protection, we need two doses to be robustly protected and really two weeks after the second dose to really stare the virus in the eye.”
Across the Hunter New England region 65 fresh cases were recorded, with Lake Macquarie recording a high number of 27 cases.
Thirteen Covid infections were recorded at Maitland, 8 in Newcastle, 4 in Cessnock, 2 in Port Stephens, 1 each in Singleton and Muswellbrook.
Six were also listed in Gunnedah, 2 on the mid-coast in Purfleet and Taree and 1 in the Liverpool Plains LGA.
Thirty-seven of the cases were linked to known infections and 34 were infectious in the community. Currently there are three people in ICU.
The cases take the Hunter New England Local Health District total to 1259 since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5.
It comes as Muswellbrook’s seven-day lockdown was extended and stay-at-home orders continued until October 11.
Taree and Forster-Tuncurry on the Mid-North Coast were also sent back into lockdown until the ‘freedom day’ date.
Across the state, numbers are dropping with 608 cases. Seven deaths were recorded in NSW.
The total number of fully vaccinated people stands at 67.5 per cent – about 10.4 million people – with 88.5 per cent of people having had their first dose.
Exposure Sites
A few new exposure sites have been listed in the Hunter.
Anyone who attended these venues on the times and dates are considered casual contacts, unless contacted by NSW Health as a close contact.
Those people are being urged to get tested and isolate immediately until a negative test result has been received.
*Fast’n Fresh BP Nulkaba, Wine Country Dr on Thursday September 30 from 11am-2pm and on Friday October 1 from 11am-2pm
*Abermain Pharmacy on Wednesday September 29 from 11am-11.30am
Other venues across the Hunter New England Health district include:
*Caltex Werris Creek on Thursday September 23 from 6pm – 6:15pm, on Friday September 24 from 6pm – 6:15p, on Saturday September 25 from 6pm – 6:15pm, on Wednesday September 29 from 6pm – 6:15pm and on Friday October 1 from 6pm – 6:15pm
*BCF Tamworth on Tuesday September 28 from 4:20pm – 4:45pm
*Spotlight Tamworth on Tuesday September 28 from 4:50pm – 5:20pm
*Forster Bowling Club (especially pokies area) on Wednesday September 29 from 7:30pm – 8:40pm
Also, those who were at Stockland Forster Shopping Centre at specific shops on Sunday October 3 are considered casual contacts.
NSW Health is asking people to get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received and then re-test on October 8.
*Hot Bargain from 2:35pm to 3pm
*Ally Fashion from 3:05pm to 3:20pm
*Sports First from 3:20pm to 3:45pm
*Reject Shop from 3:45pm to 4pm
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