There were four cases of COVID-19 reported in the Mid North Coast Local Health District to 8pm yesterday (October 19).
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All are from the Kempsey Local Government Area (LGA).
Three of the cases are linked to known cases from the Kempsey LGA and the source of the infection of the other case is under investigation.
It is the 18th case in Kempsey in the last two weeks.
Kempsey West Public School has also been shutdown for deep cleaning after a member of the school community tested positive.
Principal Todd Potter said the school was declared non-operational as soon as the advice was received by the Department of Education via NSW Health authorities.
There have been 57 cases reported in the MNCLHD since the beginning of the current NSW outbreak.
The North Coast Public Health Unit is currently investigating the latest cases and contact tracing is underway, including any potential exposure venues of public concern.
COVID-19 exposure sites are listed on the NSW government website at www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/case-locations/exposure-sites.
There has also been a detection of COVID-19 fragments in sewage samples taken at Woolgoolga on 18 October.
The Woolgoolga Sewage Treatment Plant serves around 14,000 residents of Corindi Beach, Corindi, Arrawarra, Arrawarra Headland, Mullaway, Woolgoolga, Safety Beach and Sandy Beach.
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.
It can also be the result of a person with COVID-19 who may have visited the community and has since left the area.
Anyone with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms is urged to immediately come forward for testing and isolate until a negative result is received.
The vaccination rates for the MNCLHD continue to rise with more than 95 per cent of people in Port Macquarie-Hastings having received a first dose of COVID vaccine.
First dose vaccination rates, followed by double dose (DD) rates for the region are:
- Bellingen Shire 91.6%, DD 69.8%
- Nambucca Shire 92.5%, DD 67.4%
- Kempsey Shire 92.5%, DD 68.4%
- Port Macquarie Hastings Shire 95%, DD 79.0%
To stay up to date on venues of concern, you can CLICK HERE and do a postcode search.
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.
Find available vaccination bookings at the Australian government's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder (previously Eligibility Checker), or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 571 155 for assistance to book.