COVID-19 appears widespread in the Manning Great Lakes with fragments of the virus detected in sewage samples from Dawson, Wingham, Old Bar, Harrington, Hallidays Point and Forster treatment plants.
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Fifteen of the 78 new COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England Health District are located in the MidCoast local government area. They include eight at Taree, three at Wingham, two at Forster, one at Harrington and one at Tuncurry.
On Friday (October 22) Manning Gardens Public School was closed to allow time for contact tracing and cleaning to take place, after a member of the community tested positive to COVID-19..
"We continue to urge people to come forward for vaccination (providing they are not cases, contacts of cases, are not isolating, and do not have symptoms)," Hunter New England Population Health public health physician, David Durrheim. Bookings can be made via the Commonwealth Government's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder and there are also walk-in clinics available.
The new cases, in the latest reporting period to 8pm Friday, October 22, take the total number in the current outbreak to 2569. There are currently 892 active cases.
- 21 are from Lake Macquarie LGA - 3 from Macquarie Hills, 3 from Warners Bay, 2 from Cardiff Heights, 2 from Dudley, 2 from Holmesville, 2 from West Wallsend, 1 from Bolton Point, 1 from Bonnells Bay, 1 from Charlestown, 1 from Gateshead, 1 from Jewells, 1 from Toronto, 1 from Windale
- 20 are from Newcastle LGA - 4 from Jesmond, 4 from Tarro, 2 from New Lambton, 2 from Waratah West, 1 from Carrington, 1 from Elermore Vale, 1 from Hamilton, 1 from Hamilton South, 1 from Islington, 1 from Mayfield, 1 from North Lambton, 1 from Tighes Hill
- 15 are from Mid-Coast LGA - 8 from Taree, 3 from Wingham, 2 from Forster, 1 from Harrington, 1 from Tuncurry
- 10 are from Cessnock LGA - 6 from Cessnock, 2 from Kurri Kurri, 1 from Aberdare, 1 from Abermain
- 6 are from Maitland LGA - 4 from Rutherford, 1 from East Maitland, 1 from Woodberry
- 2 are from Dungog LGA - 1 from Clarence Town, 1 from Martins Creek
- 2 are from Tamworth LGA - 1 from Tamworth. 1 from West Tamworth
- 1 is from Port Stephens LGA - Raymond Terrace
- 1 is from Muswellbrook LGA - Castle Rock
Twenty four of the total active cases are currently being cared for in hospital, four are currently in ICU; 56 are linked, 16 are unlinked, and six are still under investigation; 49 were infectious in the community. 23 were isolating while infectious, six are still under investigation.
To see vaccination rates by postcode visit https://bit.ly/Vaccination_by_postcode.
To view the case location map for NSW visit https://bit.ly/NSW_CaseLocations.
Public Health will notify individuals if they have been identified as a close contact with further information. If you have not received a text message, please call 1800 943 553.
Sewage detection
NSW Health's has an ongoing sewage surveillance program. Fragments of the COVID-19 virus were detected in sewage samples collected from the Dawson, Wingham, Old Bar, Harrington, Hallidays Point and Forster Sewage Treatment Plants.
This covers the Taree, Tinonee, Taree South, Cundletown, Kolodong, Wingham, Old Bar, Wallabi Point, Harrington, Crowdy Head, Failford, Darawank, Hallidays Point, Tallwoods, Black Head, Red Head, Diamond Beach, Tuncurry, Forster, Green Point, Elizabeth Beach, Charlotte Bay, Smiths Lake, Boomerang Beach, Blueys Beach, Tarbuck Bay residential areas.
It is vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately.
Vaccination and testing sites in the MidCoast are available on the NSW Health website www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.
Taree drive through clinic
Taree Showground drive-through clinic is open seven days a week and no appointment is necessary. If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, please head to the clinic at Taree Showground or one of the other testing clinics available.
Dr Durrheim said anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to immediately get tested.
"Even people with mild symptoms, such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, headache, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose, should arrange testing as quickly as possible.
"We have been notified of a recent detection of COVID-19 virus fragments from the Inverell sewage treatment plant, where there are no known cases. This is in addition to the recent detects in Guyra, Moree, and Quirindi, where there are also no known cases.
"We continue to urge everyone, not only in these specific catchment areas, to come forward for testing even if they have the mildest of symptoms so we can identify any unknown cases and reduce transmission.
"We remind our communities that, while we may be fully vaccinated, infection is still possible and we can still transfer the virus to someone we love, including small children who are ineligible for vaccination, or vulnerable people in our community.
"People should not go to work if they are experiencing any symptoms and get tested," Dr Durrheim said.
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Toni Bell
Manning Great Lakes editor covering mastheads Manning River Times, Great Lakes Advocate, Gloucester Advocate, Wingham Chronicle and the Manning Great Lakes Extra. A journalist for 40 plus years.
Manning Great Lakes editor covering mastheads Manning River Times, Great Lakes Advocate, Gloucester Advocate, Wingham Chronicle and the Manning Great Lakes Extra. A journalist for 40 plus years.
