SIXTEEN people on the Mid North Coast have now been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.
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The latest update from NSW Health on March 27 states that a man aged in his 70s is now in home isolation after returning from overseas, and a woman in her 70s is in hospital after returning from overseas.
Mid North Coast Local Health District is contacting close contacts of the new cases, who are asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact.
They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus.
Statistics on the NSW Health website as of 8pm on March 26 shows that 10 of the 16 cases on the Mid North Coast are in the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area. By local government area, there are one-to-four cases in Kempsey Shire, the same for Nambucca Valley - and none in Bellingen Shire.
A public health alert may be issued if additional information needs to be shared in relation to specific gatherings, events or geographical locations.
A spokesperson from the local health district said staff understand there are concerns in the community about the location of people with COVID-19, as people are obviously keen to protect themselves against the virus.
"Please be assured that anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 and their close contacts are either being treated in hospital or are in self-isolation to ensure there is no ongoing risk of infection to others in the community," she said.
The 16 cases on the Mid North Coast are:
- A male in his 70s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A female in her 70s is in hospital after returning from overseas
- A female in her 70s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A female in her 60s is in hospital after returning from overseas
- A male in his 60s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A female in her 60s is in hospital after returning from overseas
- A male in his 60s has completed home isolation
- A male in his 60s has completed home isolation
- A female in her 60s has completed home isolation
- A 14-year-old female remains in home isolation
- A male in his 50s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A male in his 80s remains in hospital after returning from overseas
- A male in his 70s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A female in her 60s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A male in his 40s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
- A female in her 60s is in home isolation after returning from overseas
The district has opened a COVID-19 assessment clinic at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Clinics also opened in Coffs Harbour and Kempsey on Tuesday, March 24. Call 1300 001-956 for details.
"These clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, and local health workers," Mr Dowrick said.
"People without symptoms do not need to be tested.
"The district is asking everyone in Mid North Coast to play a part in containing the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes, maintain social distance and staying home if you're unwell."
For further health advice, visit the NSW Health website.
