Far West LHD COVID-19 Update - No Cases Reported

FWLHD urges the Broken Hill community to stay vigilant and look out for symptoms, and get tested if they have even the mildest of symptoms.

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.

There are no new casual contact venues listed in the Far West LHD.

For 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

The District's total number of recovered cases is 302 (one from Balranald, 121 from Broken Hill, one from Menindee, 27 from Wentworth LGA and 152 from Wilcannia).

The total number of active cases is 22 (12 in Wentworth LGA, two in Balranald and eight in Broken Hill).

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.

Sewage surveillance testing has detected traces of the virus that causes COVID-19 in samples taken at Wilcannia (27 October), Broken Hill and South Broken Hill (28 October) and Dareton and Buronga (26 October). Residents are urged to be vigilant for symptoms and come forward for testing. Sewage testing did not detect the virus in Balranald (27 October) or Wentworth (26 October).

Far West LHD 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). People who were not vaccinated at the time of contracting the virus are also eligible to be vaccinated as soon as they become COVID-19 negative. Those aged 12 years and above are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.

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.