The regional centre of the West, Dubbo, has achieved its first day without a positive Covid-19 case since August 10, which is a testament to the commitment of the community to quash the virus.

Up to 8pm last night, 11 new cases were recorded in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), three of which were infectious in the community. 

Of those cases, three were located in Wellington, two in Bourke, one in Bathurst and five in Cowra. 

The progress of the region comes as a welcome relief to LGA’s who are set to be released from stay-at-home orders in the coming days, including Narromine which will be freed from 12:01am Saturday September 25. 

Gilgandra and Brewarrina were released from lockdown at midnight last night, celebrating their first hours of freedom this morning. 

The taste of progress for the WNSWLHD is soured by the tragic loss of a Dubbo woman in her nineties. Her death marks the fourth death linked to an outbreak at St Mary’s Villa Aged Care Facility. 

While her death was reported yesterday as the ninth death for the WNSWLHD, it was recorded in today’s numbers. 

Dubbo’s clear day for new covid cases is joined by another first, as 189 people in the district remain in the covid care in the community program, which assists the recovery of covid-19 patients. 

Today is the first day that the number has remained under 200 people in nearly a month, providing a hopeful symbol that the scales are beginning to tip in our favour in the fight against Covid-19. 

Despite the exciting milestones for the district, WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan has warned that we’re a long way from being covid-free yet. 

“I don’t think we’ll ever see a zero day in the coming weeks, months, and years in Western New South Wales,” said Mr McLachlan. 

“I think we’ve got a real risk of spreading a lot in our community, so don’t think anyone should be at ease,” he said.

“If you’ve been released from stay-at-home orders, then there’s some liberties and freedoms that come with that, but that doesn’t mean relaxing the things that will help us stop the spread of Covid or assuming that there isn’t Covid in the community.”

The message from the WNSWLHD authorities remains the same; testing and vaccination will remain our armour against the virus.

Locals are encouraged to continue to seek out vaccination opportunities, with a full list of available local vaccination clinics here.

Surveillance testing is continuing around the health district, making getting covid tested a simple errand without any interruption to life, providing you’re not a close or casual contact and have no symptoms.