Far West LHD COVID-19 Update - No Cases Reported
The Far West Local Health District reported no new cases of COVID-19 to 8pm last night, but continues to urge the community to come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of symptoms. Everyone is also urged to get vaccinated if they have not already.
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.
One case recovered in Broken Hill yesterday. The District's total number of recovered cases is 320 (152 from Wilcannia, 127 from Broken Hill, 37 from Wentworth LGA, three from Balranald and one from Menindee). The total number of active cases is 29 (10 in Broken Hill, one in Wentworth LGA, two in Menindee and 16 in Ivanhoe). One case in Broken Hill has been removed from the count and attributed to another area.
Anyone currently experiencing or who has recently experienced even mild cold-like symptoms is asked to come forward immediately for testing. It's important that you isolate after your test until you get a result if you have symptoms. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches or pains, and a change in taste or smell.
Surveillance testing has been implemented across the Far West Local Health District to encourage more people to get tested. Surveillance testing is the same as normal COVID-19 testing but allows the person to not have to self-isolate while they wait for their test results, provided they have no symptoms, and they are not a close or casual contact of a confirmed case and everyone at home is well. Anyone with symptoms must still isolate until they receive a negative result.
Find your nearest testing clinic here: COVID-19 testing clinics | NSW Government.
In the context of high vaccination rates in the community, from today (Monday 15 November), NSW Health will no longer routinely list case locations for regional and rural NSW on its website.
This change does not affect NSW Health's contact tracing work and response to cases or outbreaks.
NSW Health will continue to contact people diagnosed with COVID-19 and their close contacts, and all people who need to follow specific health advice. If you receive a message from NSW Health, it is important that you follow the advice in that message.
People who have been to a venue around the same time as a person with COVID-19 will continue to receive a case location alert from Service NSW.
NSW Health will also continue to support workplaces and other locations with a potential COVID-19 outbreak.
NSW Health will continue to notify the public of venues of concern where there has been high levels of transmission and there is a need to alert members of the community who may have been there during the exposure period.
Sewage surveillance testing has detected traces of the virus that causes COVID-19 in samples taken at South Broken Hill (11 November), and Wilcannia and Dareton (9 November). Residents are urged to be vigilant for symptoms and come forward for testing. No traces of the virus were detected in sewage samples in Broken Hill (Wills St) (11 November), Balranald (10 November), Wentworth and Buronga (9 November).
Those aged 12 years and above are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. Far West LHD continues to urge the community to come forward for vaccination (providing they are not cases, contacts of cases, are not isolating, and do not have symptoms). People who were not vaccinated at the time of contracting the virus are also eligible to be vaccinated as soon as they have recovered.
NSW Health state-run clinics are now offering a booster dose, using the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, to individuals aged 18 and over. This booster shot will help people maintain a high level of protection against the COVID-19 virus, including the Delta variant. People aged 18 years and older may receive a booster at least six months after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia.
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.