Two women, a man and a child – all from the same household – tested positive for COVID-19 in Wagga Wagga over the weekend. The four new cases bring the total number of active COVID-19 cases in the region to 54.
The four people recently returned from Victoria and have been in self-isolation. Hospital in the Home will be used to care for the family using monitoring devices, supported by the paediatric team. The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Public Health Unit has completed contact tracing.
An additional pop-up testing clinic will soon open in Wagga Wagga, and MLHD is encouraging anyone, even with the mildest of symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough, headache, fever or shortness of breath to be tested. The tests are free and confidential.
MLHD recommends people wear masks in situations where they are unable to physically distance from others. Masks should also be worn in NSW by public-facing employees such as hospitality or supermarket workers, worshippers and residents of suburbs near COVID-19 clusters.
A test can be done at the hospital clinics at Deniliquin, Cootamundra, Griffith, Leeton, Tumut or Wagga Wagga. MLHD recommends calling the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 831 099 to book an appointment.
Commonwealth-funded GP-led Respiratory Clinics have been set up in Gundagai, Young, Griffith, Tumut, Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin. Bookings can be made by calling Health Direct on 1800 022 222 or book online.
Some GPs can test for COVID-19 in their practice, but the public is advised to call and enquire before making an appointment.
People are required to self-isolate until they receive their test result, this usually takes around 30 hours and the result can be received via text message.
Testing is critical to help minimise the risk of community to community transmission and to stop the spread.
For the full list of testing locations in NSW visit the NSW Health website.
Original Article published by Sharon Kelley on About Regional.