NSW identifies six more coronavirus hotspots
The NSW Health Department has added six local government areas to the growing list of coronavirus ‘hotspots’ in the state.
On Friday, NSW Health recorded just one new coronavirus case in a 24-hour period after conducting over 32,000 tests across the state.
However, six new local government areas have been deemed ‘coronavirus hotspots’ and residents and those who have visited the areas in the past two weeks are being urged to get tested if they display even the mildest of symptoms.
The Hills District and the Hornsby Shire, both in Sydney’s northwest, Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and the western suburbs of Guildford and Merrylands have all been added as ‘hotspots’, in addition to all of Newcastle.
“With a growing number of cases, if you live in or have visited the following local government areas (LGAs) or suburbs in the past two weeks, get tested even if you have mild COVID-19 symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat,” NSW Health says on their website.
The one new case reported on Friday is connected to Hornsby Hospital, NSW Health said, however that person went into isolation prior to becoming infectious, due to the news of the previous case connected to the hospital.
The full list of areas and suburbs with increased tested are:
Campbelltown LGA
Canterbury Bankstown LGA
Cumberland LGA
Eastern part of City of Sydney LGA (includes the suburbs Sydney, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Centennial Park)
Fairfield LGA
Guildford (suburb)
Hornsby Shire LGA
The Hills LGA
Liverpool LGA
Merrylands (suburb)
Newcastle LGA
Parramatta LGA
In a statement, NSW Health said despite the low numbers of new cases this week, coronavirus is still circulating within the community and “vigilance must be maintained”.
“It is vital that high rates of testing continue in order to find the source of the cases still under investigation and to identify and stop further spread of the virus,” the health department said.
“NSW Health is urging anyone with even the mildest of symptoms – including runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of taste and smell – to come forward for testing. It is the best way to protect your family, friends and the wider community.”
Northern Territory lifts quarantine rule for Port Stephens
The Northern Territory has reopened its borders to country NSW but Sydney and all of Victoria remain coronavirus hotspots.
NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie revoked the hotspot designation on Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.
"People arriving to the NT from Port Stephens will not have to enter mandatory quarantine," he said on Friday.
Anyone currently in mandatory Top End quarantine from the revoked hotspot will be released, Dr Heggie said.
Victoria and 32 councils in Greater Sydney remain on the NT's hotspot list.
Travellers arriving in the NT from or through a declared hotspot must undertake 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine at a cost of $2500.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
