Covid-19: South coast hospital preparing for spread of Sydney Delta strain outbreak
As Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak rapidly spreads to regional NSW, a south coast hospital is preparing for its spread but there are still no plans for a mass vax hub for the area.
The South Coast News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The South Coast News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With the ongoing Sydney Delta strain outbreak moving into regional NSW, a south coast hospital is preparing for a possible future spread of the disease.
NSW Health confirmed on Thursday a person with COVID-19 travelled to the south coast by train to Bomaderry in late July, before visiting the Nowra NAB Bank branch and Woolworths in Kiama.
An Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District spokeswoman said there are plans to create a dedicated COVID-19 patient ward and expand Intensive Care Unit capacity at Shoalhaven Hospital if needed.
“Shoalhaven Hospital has well established plans to care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This includes staff surge planning and reconfiguring wards to establish a dedicated COVID-19 patient ward and expanding Intensive Care Unit capacity to care for patients who may require ventilation,” the spokeswoman said.
“These plans are reviewed regularly and updated to reflect the latest situation with the spread of COVID-19.
“There is currently sufficient ICU capacity for all patients who require intensive care, with more than 500 beds available throughout the system, and capacity to quadruple its current ICU capacity if required.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said six positive cases were confirmed in Western NSW on Thursday morning.
Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley called for the creation of a mass vaccination hub at Nowra this week, in order to ramp up the community’s defence against an outbreak.
However, the health district spokeswoman said were currently no plans for a Shoalhaven hub, and directed residents to the hospital or their local GPs for the jabs.
NSW Health recorded 335 new cases on Thursday, including one in the Shellharbour region.
“The source of infection is under investigation, however is most likely linked to travel to Sydney required for work. The case was working from home when not required to travel for work,” the health district spokeswoman said.
Moruya resident Rhonda Chase said she was concerned the virus would likely spread to towns south of Nowra, where doctors say hospitals aren’t as well equipped as the Shoalhaven.
“Regional areas cannot afford to get it, as hospitals in these areas are either not big enough or not equipped to handle it,” she said.
“It‘s very frightening to hear it’s travelling down the coast, as from Nowra to Bega we only have small hospitals.”
Doctor Michael Holland said for residents between Batemans Bay and the Victorian border, the closest ICU referral is Canberra.
Hospitals there “could only cope with one patient for just a few hours in preparation for their transfer”, he said.
Canberra recorded its first positive Covid-19 case on Thursday in over 12 months.
The Southern NSW Local Health District is currently reviewing PPE stocks and COVID-19 response plans in preparation of the possible spread of the Delta strain.
They have also finished a review of hospital entry screening procedures at all their sites.
‘Twisted hide-and-seek’: Hunt for prison escapee enters third day
A man who escaped from a South Coast prison on Wednesday is still at large, with cops working around the clock in a “twisted game of hide and seek” to track down the fugitive.
Former transport minister not on board with Chinese bus biz
An ex-transport minister has scrutinised the Minns Government’s decision to use a Beijing-based business to spearhead a new electric bus manufacturing plant on the South Coast, saying builds should be handled on home soil.