Sept. 23, 2021: Central Coast Local Health District CCLHD has changed its data reporting protocol and will no longer be reporting potential exposure sites to the public.
The announcement comes as reliable reports suggest the local contact tracing team are being put under growing pressure as local case numbers grow.
An offical media statement by an unnamed CCLHD spokesperson said:
‘Central Coast Local Health District will no longer identify COVID-19 venue exposures which are assessed as low risk. Experience shows there is a very low risk of transmission at venues such as takeaway cafes, petrol stations and for short visits to retail shops.’exposure sites’.
CCLHD has reasoned that the reduced reporting will allow faster and more effective contact tracing, the Central Coast Public Health Unit is focusing its efforts on people who have potentially been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case. The statement says such venues include:
- households;
- workplaces;
- high-risk facilities (such as a healthcare or aged care facility, school or childcare centre); and
- any location where transmission has been identified or is considered likely to have occurred.
“The revised process for Central Coast region is based on state-wide experience gained during the current COVID-19 outbreak” said the spokesperson.
CCLHD will continue to assess venues on a case-by-case basis and alert the public of any exposures where there is deemed to be a public health risk.
Greater Sydney stopped reporting exposure sites earlier this month.
Verified information source: Media releases Central Coast Local Health District October 19-25 2021
This seems like a lack of “duty of care” responsibility.
I wonder what future legal actions this may result in.
We need as must data as possible to gage how serious the area of cases. Also data on hospital cases as this gives people awareness of the seriousness.
Too much data confuses people and panics them into getting tested “just in case” … [edited]
As residents of the coast we have a right to know if we’ve been exposed, even if it’s a lower risk. This change in rule means that if someone comes in to my work with covid no one will know until one of the workers comes up positive. This is absolutely outrageous.
This sends the public a very worrying message that things really have got out of control or it could be interpreted that there are no exposure sites on central coast and we will all drop out guard.
How will we know what venues to avoid for a while if nobody tells us where the potential exposure sites are.
I am gobsmacked by this decision by CCLHD. There is still aerosol transmission at “casual contact” sites. Delta is an extremely virulent strain, and we absolutely need to know ALL exposure sites, whether they are close or casual. If this is a taste
of what it’s going to be like when we open up at 70%, we should all be very worried, even if we are fully vaccinated. It feels like Gladys is just going to “let it rip”. We have already been warned of vastly escalating cases and hospitals being overrun.
After all, it has been said that NSW is a “test case”, so brace yourselves.
How disappointing and frustrated there will not be a daily report on current virus areas so that we can at least try and stay as safe as possible here on the central coast..can’t follow the logics in that helping to keep us all safe..
Absolutely pathetic . I am interested in the CentralCoast in which I have resided for the last fourth years. Knowledge is power. I can’t believe you are happy to leave us in the dark. Very annoyed.
Just recently the amount of Cases at Coles Toukley is ridiculous 13 new cases and counting.
I would love to know if any of the staff are getting regular Covid tests done at all. It seems like they aren’t to have that many cases running rampant.
That’s worrying! How are we supposed to know then? Or we aren’t supposed to know?lack of transparency is what drives people to do stupid things! Ridiculous!!!
If recent hotspots deemed of low transmission will no longer be listed, how does one respond to the frequent question asked at venues…. have you been to a hotspot recently? Haven’t got the foggiest!
I see the reasoning based on logicistics of the decision, the tracers must followup hotspots of high transmission. Prioitising. Like all our wonderful health workers they must be overwhelmed but the case load.
I think we must be responsible, ALL OF US, to follow careful hygiene principles. And sadly limit our exposures where it may be a venue with high exposure potential.
The individual must use good judgement. And not be selfish. We all want this to end!
Best idea is to treat every person we encounter as being Covid positive, and every place we have to visit as being an exposure site.
Wear masks everywhere, double mask if able to, stay home as much as possible. Don’t have anyone visit our homes (except the kids bubble). Get vaccinated. Avoid crowds.
Shop online, have supermarkets deliver groceries (they do early,late, and weekends). I haven’t been into a supermarket for 12 months.
Get tested at the first sign of possible symptoms.
It’s a lottery, we can only duck and weave our way thru the horrible pandemic as best we can…and pray that is enough.
If you know where a person cotracted covid, CCH has an obligation to advise its residents. Or is it under pressure from local businesses to avoid a boycott of those businesses. Daily reports from the premier shows numbers of cases from all Sydney suburbs, forgetting the size of the Central Coast and the number of suburbs included. Why are we not given the same information, for our safety?.