COVID-19 is continuing its spread throughout western NSW with the towns of Dubbo and Walgett notching up 35 new cases.
“The focus is Dubbo, where we are concerned, and Walgett,” NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said today, Monday 16 August.
“There were 35 cases overnight. That remains a concern for our health network and those communities.
“My message for those in Dubbo, we know how interconnected the regions and communities are, please follow the health orders, the stay home orders and try and minimise mobilisation,” he said.
Despite the new cases, the Nationals leader said he was confident the health system would cope.
He said rules would tighten from Saturday with anyone travelling to regional NSW requiring a permit and just one person allowed to travel to a second home and only for urgent maintenance, repairs or animal welfare.
He also moved to clear up confusion regarding travel for people living in the regions, explaining the five kilometre travel limit from home did not apply if there were no shops nearby.
“If you have to go to the neighbouring LGA to go grocery shopping, there is no limit if that is the only option that you have. ”
The NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant echoed concerns for western NSW.
“I’m particularly concerned at the moment around Dubbo and the impact COVID is having on Aboriginal communities in Dubbo. Also that the fact that Aboriginal vaccination levels are not as high as I would like to see them,” she said.
Fragments of the virus continue to be detected throughout regional NSW with more fragments found in Bourke, Lennox Head, and Parkes.
In other regions, to 8pm on Sunday night there were 16 cases recorded in the Hunter New England area, although those cases were either close contacts of existing cases or in isolation.
There were also two new cases on the Central Coast, two in the Illawarra, while there were no cases on the north coast, Tamworth or Armidale areas, which Mr Barilaro described as “a good sign”.
Six cases are yet to be assigned a health district.
Overnight numerous COVID-19 exposure sites were also identified at Mudgee, Orange and Bathurst.
A scout hall in Dubbo and café in Orange were among the venues of concern.
AAP
