Covid update - Wednesday


4th August 2021
Of great concern today, traces of the Covid virus have been detected in the Newcastle sewage network. NSW Health has today expressed "great concern" at the
 
¿ Of great concern today, traces of the Covid virus have been detected in the Newcastle sewage network. NSW Health has today expressed "great concern" at the levels found in the Shortland and Burwood Beach treatment plants, and to a lesser degree in the Belmont treatment plant. We currently have no cases in the area confirmed, but these traces indicate that Covid may be circulating in the area undiagnosed.
¿ NSW Health has urged people living in the following areas to be vigilant and come forward and get tested immediately if they develop any symptoms: Birmingham Gardens, Shortland, Maryland, Fletcher, Minmi, Cameron Park, Stockton and Fern Bay. Testing early will be absolutely vital to containing the virus if there are cases moving around unidentified in the Newcastle or Lake Macquarie area.
¿ The Burwood Beach sewage treatment plant serves about 225,800 people from Newcastle City area and surrounding suburbs of Dudley, Charlestown, Jesmond, Lambton, New Lambton, Mayfield, Elermore Vale, Wallsend, Kotara, Garden Suburb, Adamstown Heights, Kahibah, Highfields, Merewether, Waratah West, Georgetown and Carrington. This is the first detection since April 2021.
¿ The Belmont sewage treatment plant serves about 115,000 people from suburbs including Belmont, Warners Bay, Gateshead, Tingira Heights, Bennetts Green, Jewells, Redhead, Eleebana, Croudace Bay, Valentine, Marks Point, Blacksmiths, Pelican, Swansea, Swansea Heads, and Caves Beach.
¿ The Shortland sewage treatment plant near Lake Macquarie serves about 60,000 people from Cameron Park, Fletcher, Maryland, Shortland, Mayfield West, Stockton, Sandgate, Callaghan, Kooragang, Fern Bay, Minmi, Birmingham Gardens and Fullerton Cove.
¿ In today's numbers out of Sydney, there were 230 new cases of community transmission in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Of those people, at least 47 had been doing essential work or shopping in the broader Sydney community while unknowingly infectious before their positive test.
¿ There are 286 people now in NSW hospitals with Covid-related illness with 53 people in ICU and 23 on ventilators. Sadly, two more people have died overnight, including a young man in his 20s in Sydney.
¿ In case you missed last night's post, the Belmont vax hub will start providing AZ shots from August 10. Bookings can be made from today here: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
¿ I still don't have any word on when the cancelled Pfizer vax appointments will be rescheduled. The last advice I had from Hunter Health was that people who had their appointments cancelled will receive a priority re-booking code "later this week". I'll post details if I hear anything further.
¿ Please remember to use common sense when moving around the place and get tested immediately if you experience any symptoms. Please stay vigilant and stay safe.

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