Covid update - Friday


8th October 2021
Another 97 new cases were reported in the Hunter health district in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 27 in Lake Macquarie. These new cases take the total
¿ 97 NEW LOCAL CASES / SYDNEY-CC TRAVEL RULE CHANGED
¿ COVID UPDATE - 11.10am Friday October 8
¿ Another 97 new cases were reported in the Hunter health district in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 27 in Lake Macquarie. These new cases take the total number in the latest local outbreak to 1532.
¿ TRAVEL RULE TO BE CHANGED TODAY: Before I detail today's case numbers, I need to update you on an important change to the travel rule for fully vaccinated people from Monday. Frustratingly, the Govt is moving the goal posts again. The current Public Health Order allows fully vaccinated locals to visit family and friends on the Central Coast and in Sydney from Monday (but not stay for holidays). But today, the health order will be changed and any travel to those areas won't be allowed until the State reaches the 80% vaccination target. That means:
- Fully vaccinated people in Lake Macquarie will NOT be able to travel to the Central Coast or Sydney from Monday unless it's for work or compassionate reasons.
- Likewise, fully vaccinated people from Sydney or the CC cannot travel to Lake Macquarie or other regional areas.
- Those restrictions will be lifted in about two weeks when the vax target hits 80%.
- Fully vaccinated people from Lake Macquarie and the Hunter CAN travel to other regional areas from Monday, such as Forster, Coffs Harbour, the South Coast or Byron Bay.
- Here's hoping the Govt doesn't change the rules again before Monday...¿
¿ Of today's new cases:
¿¿ 27 are from Lake Macquarie LGA
- 4 in Warners Bay
- 3 in Mount Hutton
- 2 in Hillsborough
- 2 in Teralba
- 2 in Tingara Heights
- 2 in Windale
- 2 in Gateshead
- 1 in Belmont North
- 1 in Cardiff Heights
- 1 in Charlestown
- 1 in Edgeworth
- 1 in Macquarie Hills
- 1 in Marmong Point
- 1 in Speers Point
- 1 in Toronto
- 1 in Valentine
- 1 in Yarrawonga Park
¿¿ 23 are from Cessnock LGA
- 8 in Cessnock
- 5 in Paxton
- 4 in Ellalong
- 3 in Kurri Kurri
- 1 in Aberdare
- 1 in Kitchener
- 1 in Weston
¿¿ 17 are from Maitland LGA
- 6 in Woodberry
- 4 in Ashtonfield
- 2 in Aberglasslyn
- 2 in South Maitland
- 1 in East Maitland
- 1 in Metford
- 1 in Telarah
¿¿ 8 are from Tamworth Regional LGA
- 5 in West Tamworth
- 3 in Tamworth
¿¿ 6 are from Newcastle LGA
- 3 in Mayfield
- 1 in Tarro
- 1 in Fletcher
- 1 in Cooks Hill
¿¿ 6 are from MidCoast LGA
- 3 in Taree
- 2 in Nabiac
- 1 in Minimbah
¿¿ 6 are from Singleton LGA
- 4 in Singleton
- 1 in Singleton Heights
- 1 in Hunterview
¿¿ 3 are from Port Stephens LGA
- 2 in Medowie
- 1 in Raymond Terrace
¿¿ 1 is from Gunnedah LGA
- 1 in Curlewis
¿ 30 local people are being cared for in hospital. Four are in ICU.
¿ STATUS AND CLOSE CONTACTS: Of those new cases, 65 are linked, 10 are unlinked and 21 are still under investigation. Further, 34 were infectious in the community, while 42 were isolating while infectious and the remaining 21 are still under investigation. We still have 1014 active cases in the Hunter Region.
¿ EXPOSURE SITES: Only a couple of new exposure sites of concern were named by Hunter-New England Health overnight, at Singleton, Pokolbin and Lorn. More details on the new sites (including a link to the full list at NSW Health) are on my website HERE.
¿ VAX CLINIC FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS: The Belmont vaccination hub will be offering priority vaccinations for all hospitality workers this Sunday from 8am to 2.45pm. If you work in clubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels etc, book HERE.
¿ NEW TESTING CLINIC FOR RATHMINES: Given the escalating number of cases in Lake Macquarie, a new drive-thru testing clinic will open at Rathmines on Monday. The clinic, run by 4Cyte Pathology, will operate in Rathmines Park on the former RAAF base. It will operate Mon-Fri from 7.30am to 3.30pm, and on Saturdays from 7.30am - noon. Meanwhile, the testing clinic at Morisset will be operating seven days a week throughout October.
¿ STATEWIDE: There were 646 new cases reported throughout NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Sadly, another 11 deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours.
¿ HOSPITALISATIONS: There are now 856 people currently being treated for Covid-19 in NSW hospitals, with 170 in ICU and 75 requiring ventilators.
¿ STATEWIDE VACCINATIONS: To 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 October across NSW, 89.4 per cent of the over-16 population had received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 70.3 per cent were fully vaccinated.
¿ TESTING: The importance of getting tested has never been more important in the local area. Please don't be complacent. If you experience any symptoms, please get tested as soon as possible.
¿ QUESTIONS: Please see my Facebook or Website pages for answers to frequently asked questions. Service NSW also has a 24/7 hotline where people are available to answer questions. You can reach them on 13 77 88.
¿ STAY SAFE, stay vigilant, and stay home unless you absolutely have to go somewhere.

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