AT the time of publication Hunter New England Health was providing support to seven people suffering from Covid-19, in addition to the 13 confirmed cases announced in the District since Thursday 5 August.

There are now six cases in te Hunter, including a male in his 30s from Raymond Terrace and a male in his 40s from Medowie.

Investigations into the source of the Raymond Terrace’s man infection are still ongoing.

As a result of the recent outbreak, Port Stephens now faces some of the strictest restrictions that have been placed on people in NSW.

Port Stephens lockdown was initially in place from 5pm Thursday 5 August to midnight Thursday 12 August 2021.

As it stands at the time of publication, there are multiple concerns in our region and uncertainty around the lockdown being lifted at the end of the 7 day period.

Multiple locations within the local government area are listed by NSW Health as exposure sites including Aldi Raymond Terrace, Coles Medowie and the Metro Petrol Station Williamtown.

Initially Big W Raymond Terrace was listed however it is no longer a venue of concern with the positive case, a delivery driver, not being deemed a close contact of those that have visited the store.

Testing facilities have increased after Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington lobbied for greater access and Sunday testing facilities in the region with the operation hours of the Nelson Bay testing clinic extended and a new testing clinic being established at Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace.

Major concerns for the regions include the lack of beds and ambulances paired with an older more vulnerable demographic.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is imploring those exhibiting symptoms to get tested and isolate until you have a negative result.

If you have visited an exposure site you must follow the NSW Health guidelines which may include getting tested and even in the event that you return a negative result you may be required to isolate for 14 days.

Meanwhile, prominent health care workers are urging the community to get vaccinated.

Dr Richard Totaro, Co-Director of the Intensive Care Service at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital said, “This disease is one where a small number of those that get sick end up in ICU and they stay there a long time – end up on life support around 3 – 5 weeks (based on UK data).

“NSW is pretty lucky we have controlled numbers at the moment.

“We haven’t seen anyone that has had 2 vaccines in ICU and getting ventilated.

“Stop your family and loved ones from getting sick, the higher the vaccination rates, getting everybody vaccinated, that’s a really important thing from us,” he said.

Dr Totaro also spoke of the effects of ’Long Covid’ which include muscle wasting, depression, sleep problems, fatigue and PTSD.

He praised the nursing staff that are delivering care to all those being cared for with COVID-19.

Gladys Berejiklian said, “Vaccination is keeping people out of ICU – it is keeping people out of hospital.”

If you are able to support a local or regional small business that is able to operate you are supporting locals and their families.

If you haven’t been vaccinated, now is the hour, talk to your GP and make an informed decision about being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Stay safe, vaccinate, social distance, sanitise and mask up.

 

By Marian SAMPSON