With easing of restrictions across NSW, Hunter residents need to remain vigilant to avoid a "massive upsurgence" in case numbers, Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim has warned.
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There have been 556 new cases of COVID in the health district since last Wednesday - including 118 in the Cessnock local government area.
The total active cases in the district (up to 8pm Monday) was 1102.
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With case numbers still high, it was important to get vaccinated, and to keep in place "those measures that have kept us safe so far", Dr Durrheim said on Monday.
"The second really important thing is to appreciate as we generally do in the regions, is we need to be sensible," he said.
"The mask wearing, the distancing, the avoiding crowded environments while we catch up and hopefully eventually pass Sydney with our vaccination rates.
"These are the measures at the moment that are absolutely critical if we want to make sure that we don't see a massive upsurgence of cases in the Hunter New England region.
"Also, very importantly, some people haven't realised that if even if you're double-vaxxed, if you are unfortunately a close contact of a case, you will still need to be in strict self-isolation for at least seven days, and get a test on day six before you can be released from self-isolation.
"So with more of the virus around, if we want to make sure that our lives aren't permanently in lockdown, let's make sure that we take those sensible measures that will keep us safe."
Most of the positive COVID cases in the Hunter New England region since September 14 have been in unvaccinated people aged 10 to 49, with transmission primarily occurring between families and in social settings, and some workplace transmissions.
Bolstered by a number of walk-in Pfizer clinics in recent weeks, Cessnock's single-dosed vaccination rate is closing in on the state average, with 89.1 per cent of eligible residents having received one shot of the vaccine (with NSW sitting just above 90 per cent).
According to federal government data released on Sunday, 58.4 per cent of Cessnock's eligible population is fully-vaccinated - compared to about 74 per cent of NSW - but this figure should be boosted with follow-up clinics for second doses in the coming weeks.
Disability support organisation Believe Services will hold walk-in Pfizer clinics at its Cessnock office (12 Vincent Street) on October 13 and 14, October 27 and 28, and November 3 and 4.
Believe Services managing director Lisa Wiggins said the clinics are now open to the public, and bookings can be made on 4991 1994 to guarantee a spot.
Meanwhile, a number of new exposure sites have been announced in the Cessnock LGA this week.
These include:
- Service NSW Cessnock: October 1, 9.10am to 10am
- Aldi Cessnock: October 2, 7.20pm to 7.40pm
- Cumberland Motor Inn: all day on October 1, 3, 4 and 5
- H Boutique Hotel, Pokolbin: 2pm September 22 through to 11am October 1.
Anyone who attended these venues at these times is a casual contact and must get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Testing is available seven days a week at the Cessnock Hospital drive-through clinic (by appointment only, call 4964 7497); and at the Laverty Pathology clinic on Mount View Road (no booking required, closed Sundays).
Kearsley Public School reopened on Monday, after closing on Friday for cleaning and contact tracing after at least one community member tested positive for COVID-19. Students and staff identified as close contacts have been notified and asked to self-isolate for the required period.