FIVE people in the Hunter and two on the Central Coast have been diagnosed with COVID-19, as of Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Friday, Central Coast Local Health District said it was providing care and support for a woman, aged in her 30s, who was diagnosed with coronavirus.
On Tuesday, CCLHD said a second woman, in her 40s, had been diagnosed with COVID-19, after returning from overseas.
"Her close contacts have been contacted and asked to self-isolate," a spokesperson for CCLHD said.
"They are being contacted every day by the public health unit to check that they are well. Any contact who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the infection."
Health staff are undertaking daily wellness checks on both Central Coast women who are in isolation at home and "doing well", CCLHD said.
In the Hunter, a man in his 20s, and a man and woman in their 60s, are the latest to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the region. The two men are related to the woman.
The younger man works in the tourism industry and has had contact with foreign visitors to Australia. All three are in home isolation, and are being monitored by health staff.
Related reading:
Clinics testing people with risk factors for COVID-19 opened this week at Gosford and Wyong hospitals.
CCLHD said it was important to keep up to date with the latest information and advice, particularly on who should be tested.
Only people who have developed cold- and/or flu-like symptoms, and have returned from overseas in the last 14 days or are a close contact of a confirmed case should consider being tested.
Last week, Dr Lee Fong, secretary of the Hunter GP Association and senior clinical director of Hunter Primary Care, said that meant "almost nobody needs testing or treatment".
If you feel you may need to be tested for COVID-19, contact your GP or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice in the first instance.
If you are advised by health professionals to be tested, and you choose to attend the Central Coast clinics, you must phone to book an appointment.
If you are well (no respiratory symptoms) but have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, or have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you do not need to be tested, CCLHD said.
"However, you should self-isolate for 14 days from when you arrived in Australia or last had contact with a confirmed case and monitor your health. Should you develop symptoms, you should seek advice from your GP or Healthdirect."
The Wyong clinic is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days. Phone 4394 9200.
What you can do to help
NSW Health is continuing to trace and respond to cases as they are diagnosed to slow any spread of COVID-19 in the community.
To help protect the community people are asked to:
- clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub;
- cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing into a tissue or a flexed elbow;
- avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms; and
- stay home if you are sick.
For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
Should you be tested?
CCLHD said only people who answered yes to the following question should consider being tested:
Q: Have you developed cold- and/or flu-like symptoms AND have returned from overseas in the last 14 days or are a close contact of a confirmed case?
If you believe you should be tested, then contact your GP or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice in the first instance.
If your GP or Healthdirect advise you to get tested, then phone ahead to book a test at your selected testing clinic.
At the testing clinics
ANYONE who attends one of the COVID-19 testing clinics at Wyong or Gosford without a booking may be asked to wait, or may be instructed to go home and return for an appointment.
This is to minimise waiting times and the risk of infection to others.
Both of the Gosford and Wyong COVID-19 clinics will operate seven days a week. Please call ahead to make a booking:
Gosford (open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm weekends): 4320 5055.
Wyong (open 9am to 5pm every day): 4394 9200.
