Newcastle, Hunter Valley Covid-19: 7-day lockdown following rise in Covid cases
A major shopping centre has issued exposure site notifications for a number of its stores at the Hunter enters its seven-day lockdown.
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One of the Hunter’s largest shopping centres has issued exposure site notifications for four of its stores at the region begins its seven-day lockdown.
The region-wide lockdown, beginning 5pm Thursday, comes almost one year to the day since the Newcastle and Hunter Valley’s last confirmed Covid case.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday morning that local government areas including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Musswellbrook would be locked down from 5pm on August 5.
“Dr Chant reported yesterday there was a high level of virus detected in the Hunter and Upper-Hunter Region,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“And overnight there have been some cases in that region.”
Ms Berejiklian said the lockdown would start at 5pm on Thursday and run until August 12.
Dr Chant said there were alerts for casual contacts at the University of Newcastle Auchmuty Library and Target in Glendale.
“We had advice on the group in the Public Health Unit about people coming in from various sites to work, shop or access services in various areas,” she said. “We are taking a broad approach to lockdown … and putting in citywide restrictions.”
RELATED:Hunter businesses react to lockdown
Dr Chant said the cases today didn’t explain the reasonings behind Covid-19 detections in sewage treatment facilities across the region.
“Whilst those orders don’t come in until 5pm, I would ask people to do that now,” she said.
“Please go home, isolate and stay home … the stay-at-home provisions do not permit visitors to your home.”
Dr Chant said schools across the region would move to work from home for the week in lockdown.
The lockdown comes after a Target at Glendale was identified as a venue of concern.
Two schools in the Hunter, Maitland Christian School and Morisset High School were visited by an infected person. while a school has been forced to close after a student contracted Covid-19.
It is understood the student’s two siblings, who also tested positive for the virus, attended Lake Munmorah Public School on the Central Coast.
In the email Morisset High School principal Darren Brailey said the school would shut on
Thursday for contact tracing and deep cleaning.
“The NSW Department of Education has been advised by NSW Health that a student at our school has tested positive for Covid,” Mr Brailey said in the email.
“Our school will be non-operational effective immediately for the on-site attendance of staff and visitors to allow for contact tracing and deep cleaning.
“All students are asked to self-isolate until you receive further advice.”
The email said anyone with cold or flu symptoms should seek Covid testing under the advice of NSW Health.
“We will continue to work closely with NSW Health to ensure that all necessary health advice is adhered to,” Mr Brailey said.
“While we recognise that this will be disruptive and inconvenient for families, it is important that we follow NSW Health advice and take all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of further transmission to support our community.”
The Department of Education-owned NSW School Updates app had been updated on Thursday morning to advise of the school closure.
Morisset High School is located in the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area, bordering on the Central Coast, and was not part of the Greater Sydney lockdown.
VAX RATES, WHERE TO GET THE JAB, ACTIVE CASES: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID IN THE HUNTER
Meanwhile, Cr Penfold tweeted on Thursday morning an image of a text message stating Maitland Christian School had been shut after two students tested positive.
“Please collect your children immediately – even if you are an essential worker,’’ the text read.
“Our school will be non-operational effective immediately for the on-site attendance of staff and visitors to allow time for contract tracing and cleaning.’’
Comment is being sought from the school.
The alerts come just one day after “very high” rates of Covid were detected in Hunter sewerage.
ROLLING COVERAGE:
As the Covid-19 outbreak unfolds in the Hunter The Newcastle News will have rolling coverage.
Jump N Swim Academy said two infected people visited the Thornton centre on Wednesday, August 4 between 5pm and 5.30pm. Those in the pool and pool deck area at that time have been deemed close contacts and should immediately isolate and seek testing. Those who were elsewhere at that time, or anywhere in the centre between 4.30pm and 5pm, and 5.30pm and 6pm are considered causal contacts, and should isolate until they receive a negative test result.
Those who attended the Apple Store, Boost Juice, Priceline or Get Polished at Charlestown Square between 3pm and 5pm on Thursday, July 29 have been told to isolate and get tested.
Anyone who visited the University of Newcastle’s Auchmuty Library between 4pm and midnight on Thursday, July 29 are asked to get tested and isolate.
People who attended Target Glendale between 8.30am and 1.30pm on Sunday, August 1 received a text message from NSW Health late on Wednesday night, telling them to immediately isolate and get tested.
All students from Lake Munmorah public school, Morisset High School and Maitland Christian school are asked to self-isolate until you receive further advice.
Anyone with cold or flu symptoms should seek Covid testing under the advice of NSW Health.
CHARLESTOWN SQUARE EXPOSURE SITES
At 7pm
A number of stores at Charlestown Square have been identified as exposure sites.
People who visited the Apple Store, Boost Juice, Get Polished or Priceline between 3pm and 5pm on Thursday, July 29, have been told to immediately isolate and seek testing.
“There are currently no other known exposure sites at Charlestown Square,” centre management said in a statement.
“We continue to monitor the situation and are following all relevant advice and guidance issued by NSW Health with regards to Covid-19.”
COUNCIL FACILITIES TO CLOSE
At 6.30pm
Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser encouraged residents and workers to do the right thing by following health directions and limiting their movements to essential purposes only.
“People may leave their homes for essential reasons outlined in the Public Health Orders, which include for work or study that cannot be undertaken at home, to exercise outdoors, shopping for essential items and for care and compassionate reasons,” Cr Fraser said.
Residents may still attend Covid testing and vaccination sites and are encouraged to do so.
“Our shared pathways, foreshore areas, sports fields, beaches, skate parks and playgrounds remain open and available for people to access for exercise purposes only, while continuing to practice social distancing and hygiene rules.
“I encourage our Lake Macquarie community to look after each other and check in on neighbours and friends in a COVID-safe manner to help us all get through this together,” Cr Fraser said.
“Council crews will be working to keep our parks and reserves maintained and available for residents’ daily exercise; continue collecting waste and serving customers online and over the phone, and deliver as many other key services as we possibly can. I appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this challenging time for our Council staff.”
Despite staying open to the public for local exercise, Lake Macquarie beaches will remain unpatrolled as scheduled, until the September school holidays.
Cr Fraser said Council had closed many of its venues and cancelled or postponed upcoming events, including Living Smart Festival, Feast for the Senses and History Illuminated.
Services remaining open:
All waste services
Outdoor recreational and exercise facilities
Customer service team is available online at lakemac.com.au or phone on 4921 0333
Services closed:
Council’s administrative centre for face-to-face customer service (online
Lake Mac Swim Centres
· Rathmines and Warners Bay theatres
· Lake Mac Libraries (extended due dates on all loan items)
· Community centres and halls, including Hunter Sports Centre and The Place
· Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, yapang (MAC)
· Visitor Information Centre at Swansea
· Lake Mac Holiday Parks (tourists already in the parks can remain on-site)
‘Now is not the time to be complacent’
At 3.20pm
Northern Region police commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said a regional emergency operation centre would be set up at Newcastle police station to help co-ordinate the inter-agency response to the lockdown.
He warned residents to abide by the public health order.
“Now is not the time to be complacent about that, we will make sure that people are wearing masks, they are QR coding when they’re going into businesses.,’’ he said.
“The main thing is you will be detected and you will be fined if you do the wrong thing.
Up until now, the vast majority of people in this community have done the right thing and that is what we wish them to continue to do.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna later added: “Whilst this lockdown is new to the Hunter region, no one can say they aren’t informed about the Covid-19 Delta variant and what has been happening in greater Sydney.
“We have had masks in place now for various reasons for a number of months now so there is no time for warnings now. We have to get across this very very quickly so there will be compliance enforcement.’’
LONG LINES FOR TESTING ALL DAY
At 3.10pm
In Maitland a large turnout saw the Showground close its testing facility to more entries from 1pm.
MORE TEST KITS NEEDED – OR ARE THEY?
At 3pm
A Hunter New England Health spokesman has refuted claims clinicians were running out of Covid-19 swab kits in Maitland.
The spokesman told The Newcastle News Maitland clinics had “adequate testing supplies” following claims a traffic controller had told residents appearing for testing to turn around and go home.
“The claims are wrong,” he said. “The Maitland testing clinic has adequate testing supplies.”
At 2pm
There has been some confusion over whether there are adequate testing kits, with suggestions people were being turned away.
Maitland MayorLoretta Baker told the Newcastle News she had a briefing and a number of testing kits were being delivered to Maitland due to a shortages.
Said it was not just an issue in Maitland, but also Newcastle
“The Hunter will be replenished,” she said.
“We’ve been told from local health experts testing kits have run out in Maitland.”
“Told a lot of people want to be tested but have run out of testing kits.”
“We’ve been advised NSW Health will get them out ASAP”
At 1.30pm
Maitland state Labor MP Jenny Aitchison said she was told first-hand by residents presenting for testing that traffic controllers “sent them away” after informing them they had run out of tests.
“When I raised this with Hunter New England Health, a representative told me that this was not the case,” she said. “Hunter New England Health say they do have tests available.”
The Newcastle News understands incorrect information was announced by a traffic controller to residents presenting for tests in an effort to get them to leave the clinic, before NSW Police published the information.
NSW Health has been contacted for clarity, but is yet to respond.
MP TAKES AIM
At 12.45pm
Shortland federal Labor MP Pat Conroy labelled the current an outbreak a failure of the State and Federal Governments, calling for vaccines redirected from the Hunter to be returned immediately.
“As late as eight days into the Bondi outbreak, Scott Morrison was still on television,
urging Gladys Berejiklian to ‘resist going into a full lockdown’,” Mr Conroy said.
“He now bears responsibility for what the Hunter and Central Coast are going through right now.
“Today we’ve heard the Prime Minister has found an extra 180,000 Pfizer doses for
New South Wales, some of which will hit the regions in the week of 16 August.
“That’s still 11 days away. We needed these vaccines yesterday.”
Mr Conroy said supply was a significant issue in the region, with no Pfizer doses available at his local GP.
“Eighteen months into this pandemic, it’s clear the Morrison Government has got no idea,” he said.
“What it is doing and is playing catch up to address its failures.
“The Prime Minister’s complacency and ‘it’s not a race’ attitude has resulted in our
region being in lockdown and our health being endangered.”
COURT CHANGES
At 12.30pm
As Covid news circulates around the Hunter, Newcastle Court has now announced all trials scheduled for next week will be vacated, and delayed until next year.
At 12pm, Judge Tim Gartelmann said there would be no jury trials happening next week, although judge-alone trials would still be able to go ahead.
Some defence barristers indicated due to the delay, they would make applications to have their trials heard by judge alone.
Meanwhile, Lake Macquarie Business Chamber President Richie Williams said they’d held preliminary talks about potential lockdowns in the Hunter, but didn’t think it would be here this quick.
“You’d have to be blind Freddy if you didn’t even consider it and not paying attention to what is really happening,” Mr Williams said.
“It is not new news, it is something that was expected, something that would happen, particularly that we were exposed to Sydney workers coming up.”
Mr Williams said the snap lockdown would limit various trades, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry, but there’s hope a small sacrifice would pay off.
“We have been very fortunate, we haven’t had what Melbourne and Sydney have had for the last seven weeks,” he added.
“There’s been a lot more liberal movement around the region, but we certainly need to protect our economy, looking for solutions in how businesses can trade.
“A lot of businesses have bounced back extremely well from the previous time, let’s hope they can do it again.”
“Hopefully it’s long enough to subdue the issue and get back to trade.”
PUSH TO USE COMMUNITY HALLS
At midday
A Lake Macquarie councillor is calling for the council to make available all community halls, public areas, sportsgrounds, or even have pop-up testing sites to do anything it can to help support NSW Health following the latest Covid cases.
“If they feel that is necessary then we should do it,” Cr Kevin Baker said.
“We must help health professionals through this time.”
Cr Baker said he’s confident people will comply with the stay-at-home orders during the snap week lockdown but is fearful it will last longer.
“Given the number of cases which have popped up already, and the expanding number of contact areas, I am not optimistic it will end after a week,” he said.
Under 40 and working in the health industry, Cr Baker is fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, urging everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they can, with new doses arriving in the Hunter.
“I know it has been troublesome to get a vaccination appointment but many of our community pharmacies now have the AstraZeneca vaccine available,” Cr Baker added.
“It is safe and when you’re in this type of situation, the best vaccine is the one that is available.
“This is our way out of this.”
NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS SHOULD GO HOME,
At 11.45ampm
Ms Jenny Aitchison has called for all non-essential workers in the Hunter to go home immediately.
“I am very concerned to hear reports of students from [Maitland Christian School] being seen out and about in shopping centres and other public spaces this morning after their schools were closed and students sent home.,’’ Ms Aitchison said.
She later added: “I cannot be any clearer: Please stay home if you can stay home.”
“If you start to get symptoms, please do not go to the pharmacy or the doctor, go straight to get tested and go home until you get a result. If you need medical advice, please call ahead to your local GP service or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222 (open 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week).
“I urge everyone to stay home if you can, to be vigilant and to get tested if you have any symptoms at all, or are concerned that you may have visited a venue of concern. We must learn from what has happened in Sydney.”
“Please do not think: “how can I get out of the lockdown”, because if you can find a loophole, so can Covid.”
BE PATIENT ON THE ROADS
At 11.30am
NSW Police has issued a warning for drivers to be patient around Covid testing facilities in the Lake Macquarie region.
“Lake Macquarie Police and the Traffic and Highway Patrol are currently conducting a traffic operation across the region, with a heavy presence around the Morisset Showground,” a statement said.
Heavy traffic was reported on Mandalong Rd extending back to the M1, and on Hillsborough Rd at Warners Bay.
BELIEF SYDNEY RESIDENTS WERE IN THE HUNTER
At 11.15am
The chief health officer said NSW Health believe that Greater Sydney residents may have been in the Hunter and Upper Hunter Region.
“Our strongest focus is getting to the bottom of how the disease was transmitted and being introduced into Newcastle,” she said.
“Investigations are preliminary — clearly we want to know how transmission occurred — we are working with individuals to track down chains of transmission.”
FINANCIAL SUPPORT ON OFFER
At 11.15am
Shadow Hunter spokeswoman Yasmin Catley said: “While I understand the community’s frustration at this outcome, this is unfortunate but necessary to make our community safe”.
“Please stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave and if you have even the slightest of symptoms go and get tested,” she said.
“We are a resilient community that pulls together in times of crisis and I know we will again to defeat this virus.”
Ms Catley said financial support for impacted businesses is available via the Service NSW website or by calling 13 77 88.
“People who lose more than eight hours of work are eligible for the federal COVID-19 Disaster Payment and can apply via Service Australia,” she said.
Maitland City Councillor, Philip Penfold, reported that parents of Maitland Christian School have been told the school is shut after two students tested positive.
People who attended Target Glendale between 8.30am and 1.30pm on Sunday, August 1, received a text message from NSW Health late on Wednesday night, telling them to immediately isolate and get tested.
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