Walgett’s break from Covid-19 cases was short lived, after seeing seven positive cases in the community yesterday. This brings the town’s total to ten cases, just one week after exiting lockdown. 

Up to 8pm last night there were 17 new cases in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), eight of those being infectious in the community. 

Of these 17, seven were located in Walgett with three infectious in the community, five were in Dubbo, two in Cowra, two in Bourke and one in Oberon. 

While eight cases are confirmed not to be infectious in the community, six remain under investigation. 

Members of the Walgett community are urged to get tested following the new cases. 

Concern surrounding weeks of covid-19 sewerage detection in Lightning Ridge and Brewarrina is rising, as positive cases are yet to be reported.

Central North Police District Inspector Trent Swinton expressed concern for Walgett and misinformation in a Facebook post following the rise in numbers. 

“I have heard in the community that some people believe that if they have received the Covid vaccination they cannot become infected or spread the infection – that is not true,” Inspector Swinton said. 

With stay-at-home orders set to life from Monday, some of the first freedoms that communities such as Bourke will have seen in over a month will be introduced. Authorities are urging locals to make surveillance testing part of their routine going forward. 

For LGAs that haven’t been under stay-at-home orders, the nature of freedoms will shift according to the state’s roadmap out of lockdown, reducing freedoms to those who have been fully vaccinated. 

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said that until Monday, October 11, anything could happen to the roadmap. 

“As we saw yesterday, the rules are still subject to change or clarification before Monday 11^th. There will also be unintended consequences and forgotten cohorts. We will do our best to address those through the Health Minister,” Mr Barwon said. 

In total, there have been 1461 confirmed Covid-19 cases across the WNSWLHD since the outbreak.

Information for Covid-19 testing and vaccination can be found here.