With over 30 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on the Peninsula during the past week, and a series of new exposure sites, local health authorities are encouraging residents to keep vigilant ahead of the upcoming end to lockdown.
The announcement comes after 677 cases of COVID-19 in the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) were confirmed (as of September 29) since the start of the current outbreak.
Nine new cases of COVID-19 were discovered in the 2256 postcode this week in comparison to the 22 cases found in the 2257 postcode.
The majority of these cases were found to be unlinked, meaning the case could not be traced to a known cluster or other case.
Data recently released by NSW Health confirmed that there has been steady incline in vaccine uptake on the Peninsula with 80-89 per cent of residents having received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
However, there is some disparity between areas in the region with 50-59 per cent of residents in areas like Woy Woy and Patonga having received their second dose of the vaccine, compared to 60-69 per cent of residents in Ettalong Beach, Umina and Killcare.
After CCLHD reported last week that they have changed data reporting protocol when it comes to COVID-19, there has been a noticeable drop in designated exposure sites announced to the public.
Recent exposure sites that have been confirmed on the Peninsula include: Aldi Umina, Sep 17, 3pm-4pm; Woolworths Woy Woy, Sep 20, 7am-1:30pm, and Sep 22, 7am-3:30pm.
Anyone who attended these venues on the dates and times listed is a casual contact.
Casual contacts must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received, even if you have had a test in recent days:
A full list of exposure sites is available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/nsw-covid-19-case-locations/case-locations.
CCLHD also confirmed that COVID-19 patients from Long Jetty Hospital will be transferred to other health care facilities including the Woy Woy Transitional Care Unit.
“Demand on the NSW health system is expected to peak in mid to late October,” a CCLHD spokesperson said.
“Staff are being consulted about redeployment to an appropriate service, such as the Woy Woy Transitional Care Unit or Wyong Hospital, to support the increase in patients moving there.”
Meanwhile, the LHD is temporarily repurposing the Long Jetty Sub-acute and Transitional Care Unit to support a potential increase in demand across the district.
It comes after the weekly allocation of Pfizer doses for Gosford and Wyong Hospitals have been increased from 4,800 to 6,800 after Central Coast MPs met with Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant last Friday.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the hospitals have the capacity to administer 12,000 Pfizer doses per week.
“Dr Chant has confirmed the Federal Government’s supply of Pfizer will remain “static” until October at the earliest,” Crouch said.
“Dr Chant advised that the Federal Government allocates at least 60 per cent of all Pfizer doses to GPs.
“This means that it is much easier to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from a GP than it is to receive one at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals.
“In spite of the supply challenges, our community is making fantastic progress in our vaccination rates.”
Maisy Rae
Can someone please explain to exactly what we can and can’t do on the Central Coast. Now that Sydney and Newcastle people can come into our LGA.
Is it true that people from Newcastle LGA’S can come into The Central Coast?