Lake Macquarie coronavirus: Health authorities call for screening blitz to halt virus
Lake Macquarie is a cause of concern with unknown sources of infection. Check out if you’re in the hotspot or in the safest place in the Hunter!
Newcastle
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While we’re all being told to stay home this Easter, those in Lake Macquarie have all the more reason to bunker down at home, with NSW Health listing the area for increased testing and surveillance.
It comes as the confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Lake Macquarie jumps to 51 — the same number as Newcastle — with three unknown sources of infection, causing concern
Recently Hunter New England Health authorities called for a screening blitz to halt local transmission.
Toronto, Rathmines, Fassifern and surrounds are the suburbs with the highest number of people infected with the virus across the Lake Macquarie region.
It’s jumped to 13, with areas around Marks Point, Belmont, Redhead Beach and Valentine increasing to 9.
The Hunter New England Local Health District is calling on Valentine, Belmont, Mt Hutton, Windale and Croudace Bay residents to contact their GP, private pathology laboratories, or the free COVID-19 clinics at Belmont or John Hunter hospitals for screening.
Cessnock also stands out as a hotspot for coronavirus.
20 cases have been reported in the one postcode of 2325.
As of today (Thursday), there are 262 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the Hunter New England region. Luckily that number is slowing but we’re being told not to be complacent and continuing to practice social distancing and only going out if necessary.
Currently 8 COVID-19 patients are being cared for in Hunter New England hospitals, including 4 in ICU.
Across the District, an additional 20 patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases recovered to 149 so far.
THE HOTSPOTS
Newcastle (51) - Wallsend and surrounds - 16
Lake Macquarie (51) - Toronto, Rathmines, Fassifern and surrounds - 13
Port Stephens (32) - Nelson Bay and surrounds - 9 / Anna Bay and surrounds - 9
Maitland (29) - Maitland, Lorn, Aberglasslyn and surrounds - 8
Cessnock (24) - Cessnock, Aberdare, Wollombi and surrounds - 20
THE SAFE HAVENS
Clearly the virus is not much into country living with just a few reported cases across the Upper Hunter. Although Greta recently recorded its first 2 which could be a worry for local residents. Denman remains virus free!
Upper Hunter - Singleton - 3, Greta - 2, Branxton - 1, Muswellbrook - 1, Denman - 0
Newcastle - Maryville, Wickham, Carrington, Fern Bay, Stockton, Islington, Newcastle West, Shortlant, Callaghan, Newcastle University - all also virus free!!
FIRST CHILD
While children across the region have been lucky not to contract the virus, the Local health district had its first case of a child under 10 yesterday.
A three-year-old girl was already in home isolation when she tested positive for COVID-19 and displayed mild symptoms, contracted from her parents.
To date, no children or young people aged between 0 and 18 years in Hunter New England have required hospitalisation for COVID-19.
The diagnosis is a timely reminder young people are susceptible to the virus and it’s important to ensure children abide by social distancing to reduce the spread to more vulnerable people within their own families, and the wider community.