COVID and Health

With lockdown extended for at least another two weeks until 11:59pm on Friday, 30 July, people are being urged to stay at home unless absolutely necessary to leave in a bid to reduce any spread.

Several local venues of concern have been named locally after someone who visited them tested positive to COVID-19.

People who visited the sites are considered casual contacts:
• North Rocks: Coles North Rocks from 10pm to 10.40pm on Friday July 9.
• Windsor: Coles Windsor from 1.20pm to 3pm on Saturday, July 10.
• McGraths Hill: BMX track Bismarck St from 11am to 1pm Wednesday, July 7
• Windsor: Riverview Shopping Centre from 1.30pm to 3pm Wednesday, July 7
• Dural: Caltex Petrol Station from 5.10pm to 5.20pm Tuesday, July 6

Everyone who is a casual contact must get a test and isolate until they get a negative result.

The NSW Health advice is:
If you were at the casual contact place less than 4 days ago:
• get a COVID-19 test at your closest testing location and isolate
• get another COVID-19 test on day 5 after you were at the casual contact place
• you can stop isolating when you get a negative result from your first test – but please:

• wear a mask when in the same room as any other person
• do not leave your home except if this is necessary, or to exercise outdoors
• go to work only if this is essential for your workplace.

• monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested again at any time if you develop any symptoms. You will need to isolate until you receive a negative test result.

If you were at the casual contact place 4 or more days ago:
• get a COVID-19 test at your closest testing location, and isolate

• stay in isolation until you receive a negative test result

• monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested again at any time if you develop any symptoms. You will need to isolate until you receive a negative test result.

You must not leave your home to get a COVID-19 vaccination when you are isolating. Once you have received a negative result, you can attend a vaccination centre. Isolation means you must stay at your home or accommodation, and stay apart from other people at all times. You can only leave for medical care (including a COVID-19 test), or in an emergency. You must not allow other people into your home or accommodation unless they usually live there, or they are entering for medical or emergency purposes.

The stay at home advice for everyone else from NSW Health is you should only be shopping for essential items, and only leaving the house for as short a period of time as possible. The advice is to shop online or use click and collect options. If you do leave home for an essential reason, check-in and out of anywhere you visit with the QR code.

On Thursday, July 15 NSW Health said 929 locally acquired cases had been reported since June 16.

The figures include 11 people, five staff and six residents, from SummitCare Baulkham Hills aged care facility where two staff members worked while unknowingly infectious.

There are 73 COVID-19 cases in the hospital, with 19 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation.

Anyone who has any symptoms, or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately.

Several testing clinics are now open seven days a week (8am to 10pm) for free tests with no GP referral required. They include Castle Hill Showground, Blacktown Showground, Rouse Hill Drive-through Clinic at 32 Worcester Rd, Rouse Hill,

For your nearest testing centre visit. www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics