NSW recorded 1485 new coronavirus cases on Sunday (September 5) as the state reached another vaccination milestone.
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Three more people have died of COVID-19 in western and south-western Sydney, including a woman in her 50s who had received one dose of a vaccine.
The other fatalities were an unvaccinated man in his 70s and an unvaccinated woman in her 70s.
Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) is urging locals with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested for COVID-19 following the detection of virus fragments in sewage samples taken from the West Kempsey sewage treatment plant on August 31 and September 2.
There are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 anywhere in the Mid North Coast Local Health District, but in the last week, virus fragments have also been detected in wastewater treatments plants in Port Macquarie, Bonny Hills, Dunbogan and Wauchope.
Repeat testing at Port Macquarie, Dunbogan and Bonny Hills have since returned negative results.
"Detection of virus fragments in sewage can help provide early warning of undetected infections in an area but can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious," MNCLHD chief executive Stewart Dowrick said.
It can also be the result of a person with COVID-19 who may have visited the community and has since left the area.
As well as being present in stools, viral fragments can enter the sewer when washed off hands and bodies through sinks and showers.
Usual sewage treatment processes inactivate, or kill, the COVID-19 virus.
Vaccinated people WILL NOT produce positive sewage samples either as there is no virus in the vaccine.
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New cases in regional areas included 32 in western NSW, four in the far west, 12 in the Hunter New England district, eight in Wollongong, three in Shellharbour and seven on the Central Coast.
The western NSW cases included 23 in Dubbo.
The Hunter cases included seven in Port Stephens, two in Maitland, the first case in Upper Hunter, one in Cessnock and one in Armidale which may be excluded after further testing.
NSW reached 40 per cent double-dose vaccination in people aged 16 and over on Saturday.
More than 73 per cent of the over-16 population have received one dose.
Get tested
There are COVID-19 testing clinics located across the Mid North Coast LHD at Kempsey, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie, South West Rocks, Wauchope and Woolgoolga.
Drive through test clinics are open at Lake Cathie sports fields, Port Macquarie Regional Stadium and Wauchope Showground.
There is also a drive through testing site at Kempsey's Riverside Park reserve at the Austral Street boat ramp.
A full list of clinic locations and opening hours are listed on the NSW government website at www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics.
There are more than 475 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week.
Get vaccinated
The Mid North Coast Local Health District is vaccinating its staff and eligible members of the community when appointments become available.
The local health district has moved its COVID-19 vaccination clinic from Port Macquarie Base Hospital to 35 Grant Street.
Go to the online COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when and where you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
You can also speak with your local participating pharmacist or GP about the vaccine that is right for you.
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