Far West LHD COVID-19 Update - No Cases Reported

All active cases are in isolation and are being contacted regularly by NSW Health staff for health and welfare checks. Follow up investigations and contact tracing are continuing.

Nine more cases recovered yesterday (four in Broken Hill and five in Wilcannia). The District's total number of recovered cases is 207 (one from Balranald, 64 from Broken Hill and 142 from Wilcannia).

The total number of active cases is now 65 (54 in Broken Hill, 10 in Wilcannia and one in Menindee).

The District is calling on anyone to get tested if they have even the mildest symptoms. Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, headache, or shortness of breath is urged to immediately get tested. Even people with mild symptoms, such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose should arrange testing as quickly as possible.

Find your nearest testing clinic: COVID-19 testing clinics | NSW Government.

Sewage surveillance testing has detected traces of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Dareton from a sample taken on 28 September 2021, and Balranald from a sample taken on 22 September 2021. FWLHD urges these communities to be vigilant and to come forward for testing regardless of symptoms.

FWLHD has introduced voluntary surveillance COVID-19 testing in Dareton as part of an effort to increase the region's testing rates. Under the new measures, anyone in Dareton who does not have symptoms, and has not been identified as a contact, may be tested but will not need to isolate while awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Anyone who has symptoms, or has been identified as a casual contact of someone with COVID-19, will still need to isolate until they receive a negative test result. Close and household contacts need to isolate for 14 days regardless of their test results.

A new casual contact venue has been confirmed. Anyone who attended the following venue listed on the specified dates and times is a casual contact (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as a close contact) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received.

Coles Broken Hill - 3 South Street

Monday 27 September, 4:20pm to 4:30pm CST

Wednesday 22 September, 10:40am to 11:10am CST

Tuesday 21 September, 1:25pm to 1:50pm CST

Tuesday 14 September, 4:50pm to 5:30pm CST

Sunday 12 September, 6:25pm to 7:15pm CST

or a full list of locations, including close and casual contact venues, public transport routes or changes to previously reported venues, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19/nsw-COVID-19-case-locations

Anyone in the community with COVID-19 who is isolating at home is reminded they should call the public health unit on +61 1300 066 055 if they have any health concerns. Please call triple zero (000) in an emergency, including a deterioration in symptoms.

Far West Local Health District continues to urge eligible people to come forward for vaccination (providing they are not cases, contacts of cases, are not isolating, and do not have symptoms). Those aged 12 years and above are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. People can make bookings via the Commonwealth Government's Vaccine Clinic Finder.