KEEP doing the right thing - that's the message from community leaders in Kempsey after the Mid North Coast confirmed its first positive COVID case in more than 475 days.
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The MID North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) has confirmed this morning (August 18) that there is one case of COVID-19 in the Kempsey Shire.
An asymptomatic 14-year-old girl travelled from Newcastle back home to Kempsey on Friday.
Contract tracers and Health officials are working directly with the family of the girl to carry out investigations and identified close contacts are already isolating.
The girl in question undertook a COVID-19 test on Sunday, self-isolated and then received notification she had tested positive late yesterday (Tuesday).
The Kempsey community is urged to come forward for testing for even the mildest of symptoms and isolate until they have received their results.
A COVID-19 testing clinic is open at Kempsey Health Campus between 8.30am and 4pm daily. Clinic hours may be extended further if required.
There are seven testing clinics across the Mid North Coast. The locations and opening hours of these testing clinics are listed on the NSW Government website: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics
Kempsey Shire Council mayor Liz Campbell and general manager Craig Milburn were briefed directly by MNCLHD this morning (August 18).
"Cr Campbell said that she, Mr Milburn and the entire staff of council send their best wishes to the patient and family concerned.
"While this is a very serious situation, and we send our support to the family, it is not any cause for panic. Council will continue to be guided by the experts within our health system who are working hard to trace contacts and movements as fast as possible," Cr Campbell said.
"The reality of coronavirus reaching our community is however a stark reminder of why it is critical that we all follow the stay-at-home order currently in place across our State. There are very few reasons why people need to leave their homes.
"If as a community we all stick to the rules, we can give ourselves the best opportunity to minimise the impact.
"Please follow the directions from NSW Health. Do not send multiple people from any household to the shops for essentials. Stay sanitised. Stay socially distant if you have to go out, but try to stay home. Please do the right thing and stay safe."
Kempsey Shire Council will continue to work with staff and residents to keep people informed of any updates or changing regulations.
"The tracing teams are undertaking an interview with the girl and will immediately update me with information relating to if and where there are any sites of concerns in our region," Ms Pavey said.
"I am relieved though that our schools have been closed for the week, and we do not have a situation where by other school students, their families and teachers are close contacts.
"I want to remind people to please follow the lockdown rules and be Covid-19 safe.
"There is a reason we have tried to limit people's movements, notwithstanding essential activities.
"I can assure you all, NSW Health is working hard to get the information we need quickly.
"Please all, do the right thing, and stay safe."
The reasons you may leave your home
- Shopping for food or other essential goods and services.
- Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact).
- Exercise outdoors in groups of two or fewer (unless members of the same household).
- Every employer across NSW must require their employees to work from home unless it is not reasonably practicable.
- You can only move around in your own local government area (LGA) for essential purposes including shopping and exercise. If you must leave your LGA to do either of these, you must not go any further than 5kms from your home into another LGA.
Schooling will be done from home in most cases.
Masks must be worn indoors (not including the home) and in outdoor settings where you cannot socially distance from others. Anyone who leaves their home must carry a mask with them at all times.
From August 16, 2021: NSW under 5km from home outside LGA rule and other additional restrictions
Get vaccinated
The Mid North Coast Local Health District is vaccinating its staff and eligible members of the community when appointments become available.
The local health district has moved its COVID-19 vaccination clinic from Port Macquarie Base Hospital to 35 Grant Street.
Go to the online COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when and where you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
You can also speak with your local participating pharmacist or GP about the vaccine that is right for you.
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