Scott McLachlan of Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) provided the following update at 12noon today, Saturday 14 August:

Up to 9am today there have been 17 new cases Covid-19 identified in our Local Health District, of these 16 are located in Dubbo and one is located in Walgett.

There are at total of 42 active cases of Covid-19 in our LHD, 38 are located in Dubbo, four are located in Walgett.

Importantly, none have been admitted to hospital.

Mr McLachlan advised that investigations and contact tracing relating to all cases are ongoing, and more close and casual contacts may be identified.

Venues of concern in Western LHD

Several venues of concern have been identified, further sites and more details may be added as investigations continue.

Anyone who attended these venues on these dates at these times is now considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since you were there, regardless of result:

• Dubbo, Bawrunga Medical Services, 2/207 Brisbane St; Wednesday 4 August 4.45pm to 5.45pm
• Dubbo, McDonald’s West Dubbo; 101 Whylandra St; Friday 6 August 3.35pm to 3.55pm
• Dubbo, Don Crosby Veterinary Surgery, 327 Darling St; Saturday 7 August 8.55am to 9.45am
• Dubbo, Tim Koertz Pharmacy, 98 Tamworth St; Monday 9 August 1pm to 1.15pm
• Dubbo, Dan Murphy’s, Cnr Windsor Pde & Birch Avenue; Monday 9 August 2pm to 2.20pm
• Dubbo, Fitness Focus Gymnastics Area, 7 Jannali Rd; Monday 9 August 3.50pm to 5.05pm
• Dubbo, COVID SAFE clinic Manera Plaza, 77 Myall St; Tuesday 10 August 7.45am to 8.35am
• Dubbo, Blues Meats, 91 Tamworth St; Wednesday 11 August 1.20pm to 1.30pm
• Walgett, Walgett Sporting Club, 10 Montkeila St; Tuesday 10 August 7.35pm to 7.50pm

Anyone who was at the following venues on the dates and during the times is now considered a casual contact and should immediately isolate, be tested and stay in isolation until results are received:

• Dubbo, McDonald’s West Dubbo; 101 Whylandra St; Friday 6 August 3.35pm to 3.55pm
• Dubbo, The Harvest Café, 64 Palmer St; Saturday 7 August 9.50am to 10.10am
• Dubbo, Ashcrofts IGA, 95 Tamworth St; Sunday 8 August 12.35pm to 12.55pm & Wednesday 11 August 1pm to 1.20pm
• Dubbo, Bunnings, Cnr Mitchell Hwy & Sheraton Rd; Monday 9 August 8.10am to 8.20am
• Dubbo, Woolworths Orana Mall, 56 Windsor Pde; Monday 9 August 3pm to 3.15pm & Tuesday 10 August 2.30pm to 3pm
• Dubbo, Dan Murphy’s, Cnr Windsor Pde & Birch Avenue; Monday 9 August 2pm to 2.20pm & Tuesday 10 August 2.30pm to 3pm
• Dubbo, Myall St Mini Mart, 272 Myall St; Monday 9 August 3.35pm to 3.45pm
• Dubbo, Fitness Focus areas other than gymnastics area, 7 Jannali Rd; Monday 9 August 3.50pm to 5.05pm
• Dubbo, United Petrol Station, 195 Cobra St; Monday 9 August 4.25pm to 4.28pm
• Dubbo, Snap Fitness; 113 Darling St; Tuesday 10 August 4.30pm to 5.30pm
• Dubbo, Sportsworld, 163 Sheraton Rd; Tuesday 10 August 4.45pm to 6pm
• Dubbo, IGA West Dubbo, Victoria St; Wednesday 11 August 11am to 11.30am
• Dubbo, Woolworths Delroy Park, Minore Road; Wednesday 11 August 11.30am to 11.45am

Stay at Home orders continue

There has been no change to Stay At Home orders imposed on the Dubbo Regional LGA, which extend from August 1 to August 19, similar orders have been introduced for the LGAs of Walgett, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren, which extend from August 5 to August 19.

Stay At Home orders for the apply to anyone who lives in those areas or was in those areas on or after the respective start dates.

This means people should only leave their homes for essential purposes.

Essential purposes can include going to work or education if you cannot do that from home, shopping for essential goods and services or attending essential medical appointments including having a Covid-19 test or vaccination.

Virus fragments in more sewage samples

Virus fragments were detected in sewage samples taken from Walgett on Thursday 12 August, Bathurst, Parkes and Dubbo on Wednesday 11 August, and Bourke on Tuesday 10 August.

Testing ongoing

All western area pop-up testing facilities have been extended through until next Tuesday.

Testing is available at Flood Memorial Park in Nyngan (10am to 12pm), Bourke MPS carpark (10am to 3pm) and Warren MPS (9.30 to 3.30pm).

Testing capacity has been increased in smaller, surrounding areas like Brewarrina, Coonamble, Collarenebri, Trangie, Lightning Ridge and Gilgandra. People are advised to call their local hospital or MPS ahead of time.

As well as Dubbo Showground (drive-through, from 8am), the COVID SAFE clinic at the Manera Plaza, 77 Myall Street (walk in, 8am to 4.30pm) and Pioneer Park in West Dubbo (walk in, 9am to 4pm), drive-through testing is also available at Wellington Health Service (10am to 4pm), Parkes Showground (10am to 3pm).

In most cases, people will receive their results within 72 hours. If people are waiting longer than 72 hours for results, please contact our public health team between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday on 1300 066 055.

Up to 8pm last night there had been 48,293 tests conducted in the WNSWLHD in the last four weeks.

Additional vaccines available

The WNSWLHD received an allocation of additional Pfizer doses this week to help us respond to emerging situation in our most vulnerable communities.

As part of the emergency response Western LHD began administering vaccines via a pop-up clinic at Walgett on Friday. The clinic will continue on Saturday and Sunday.

WNSWLHD's vaccination team is working through the implications of last week’s initial reallocation of additional Pfizer doses, including rescheduling mobile community clinics that were put on hold.

Supplies of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca to GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, Respiratory Clinics and participating pharmacies were unaffected by the redistribution of Pfizer vaccine to Greater Sydney. Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca are safe, effective vaccines.

The Commonwealth Government has announced the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) gave provisional approval to the Moderna vaccine, with supply scheduled to arrive in Australia from September.

More information on the distribution of the Moderna vaccine will be available in the coming days.

Community members with questions or concerns about COVID-19, including testing and vaccination, should be encouraged to contact the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.

For information on COVID-19 testing locations go to the NSW Government website at www.nsw.gov.au and click the COVID-19 button to search for your nearest location. Anyone with symptoms related to COVID-19 should arrange to be tested and self-isolate until they receive their results.

For information on COVID-19 vaccination go to the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker at www.health.gov.au

Testing locations for Saturday & Sunday August 14 - 15

Dubbo:

Showground (drive-through)

Saturday & Sunday - 8am to close

Manera Plaza (walk-in clinic)

Saturday & Sunday – 8am to 4.30pm

Pioneer Park (walk-in clinic)

Saturday & Sunday – 9am to 4pm

Bourke:

MPS carpark

Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 3pm 

Parkes:

Showground

Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 3pm

Bathurst:

Mount Panorama

Saturday & Sunday – 8am to 4pm

Wellington:

Wellington Health Service

Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 4pm

Walgett:

Walgett Swimming Pool

Saturday & Sunday – 9am to 4pm

Narromine:

Narromine Showground

Saturday – 9.30am to 3.30pm

Nyngan:

Flood Memorial Park

Saturday – 10am to 12pm

Nyngan MPS

Sunday – 10am to 12pm

Warren:

Warren MPS carpark

Saturday & Sunday – 9.30am to 3.30pm

Other western plains communities - call your local MPS/hospital.

Testing is free and no appointment is required. You must isolate until you receive a negative test result.