Coronavirus: Murrumbidgee Local Health District confirms three new COVID-19 cases
Health officials have confirmed another three coronavirus cases in the Riverina, taking the total to 13. More than 1000 people have been tested so far.
The Wagga News
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Three more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed diagnoses in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, taking the total to 13.
Of the total cases, three are in Wagga, four in Albury, two each in Federation and Greater Hume, and one each in Cootamundra-Gundagai and Griffith.
The jump in cases comes after a rise of nine earlier this week.
So far, 1110 people in the district have been tested.
Across the state, the number of confirmed diagnoses rose by 190 to 1219 overnight and 16 people are in ICU.
In a statement this morning, the health district said: “The new cases of COVID-19 located in Wagga Wagga and Greater Hume LGAs were confirmed yesterday afternoon.
“All cases notified were diagnosed after travelling overseas or being in contact with a confirmed case.
“All patients have experienced mild to moderate symptoms and are in self-isolation to ensure they do not transmit the virus. They are being managed at home with the support of their GP and a daily check up with local health services.”
When notified of a positive test result for COVID-19, the Public Health Unit starts a process called contact tracing.
Contact tracing involves interviewing the person who has tested positive for COVID-19 to determine their movements while they were infectious and identify close contacts.
A close contact is someone who has been face-to-face for at least 15 minutes, or been in the same closed space for at least 2 hours, as someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when that person was infectious.
Where individuals are identified as close contacts, the Public Health Unit tells these contacts they must isolate themselves for 14 days after they were last in contact with the case.
A daily check-up process is set up for these people to monitor their health.
This is done via an SMS process.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, sore throat and dry cough.
Symptoms will generally appear 3-4 days after exposure to the virus but can be up to 14 days later.
Members of the public are advised to minimise travel, increase personal awareness around hand hygiene and practice social distancing.
Anyone who believes they have may have contracted the COVID-19 virus (ie: who are returned travellers, or who have come in contact with a confirmed case and are showing symptoms: fever, sore throat, dry cough and shortness of breath) are advised in the first instance to:
- Call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 022 222 and receive advice about the best course of action depending on symptoms and risks.
- Contact your GP to arrange an appointment (let GP practice know in advance if you have symptoms).
- Call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 831 099 for assessment
