NAMBUCCA Valley residents are being urged to take care and to continue to take all COVID safe precautions after a recent funeral has been identified as a contact location.

The North Coast Public Health Unit is urging anyone who attended a large funeral at Lions Park, Nambucca Headland on Saturday 23 October at 11am to come forward for COVID-19 testing if they have not already done so.

A small number of people who attended the funeral have subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID case numbers available from Mid North Coast Local Health District at the time of print were at eight from the Nambucca Valley Local Government Area (LGA).

There were three new cases of COVID-19 in the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) reported to 8pm on 1 November, with one from the Nambucca Valley.

Mr Stewart Dowrick, Chief Executive Mid North Coast Local Health District said, “The Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) continues to urge the community to get vaccinated against COVID-19, with 14 cases reported on the Mid North Coast to 8pm 31 October.

“Seven are from the Nambucca Valley LGA, five are from Kempsey LGA and two are from the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA.

“Six of the cases are linked to a known case or cluster, five are household contacts of confirmed cases and the source of the infection of two cases is under investigation.

“Five of the cases reported attended a funeral at Nambucca Heads on Saturday 23 October.”

The North Coast Public Health Unit is currently investigating the latest cases and contact tracing is underway.

There have been 289 cases reported in the MNCLHD since the beginning of the current NSW outbreak.

There are two COVID testing clinics in Nambucca.

Nambucca Respiratory Clinic, 2191 Giinagay Way (Nambucca Plaza car park), Nambucca Heads is open from 9am weekdays.

The Nambucca Heads Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Shop 14 Seascape Mall, 38 Ridge Street, Nambucca Heads is open weekdays 7.30am-11.30am and 12-2pm.

COVID-19 testing rates remain high across the Mid North Coast with 898 tests conducted on November 1 – 256 at Kempsey, 250 at Coffs Harbour and 243 at Port Macquarie.

To view local exposure sites visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/case-locations/exposure-sites and input your town or postcode.

 

By Sandra MOON