IT is anticipated that an extension to lockdown in regional NSW will be announced at the 11am press conference on Thursday, August 19.
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Deputy premier John Barilaro said the lockdown was to be discussed at Wednesday afternoon's crisis cabinet meeting, but he would not be drawn on the likelihood of it being extended.
However, Member for Bathurst Paul Toole, who is one of the seven ministers involved in crisis cabinet talks, told Australian Community Media that it was highly likely regional communities would remain under stay-at-home orders.
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"I think realistically people are expecting another seven days of stay-at-home orders in regional NSW," Mr Toole said.
"What we've actually seen is escalating numbers that have been occurring across the state. You've got places like Dubbo with 128 cases, cases in Mudgee, Bourke, we've had exposure sites in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo, we've had positive fragments detected in the sewage in Bathurst and Orange as well, so it does seem highly likely that we will be in for another seven-day period."
The Mid North Coast's COVID-free bubble has burst with NSW Health confirming a case in Kempsey, a 14-year-old girl who travelled home after spending time in Newcastle.
The Mid North Coast has remained COVID-free for more than 478 days despite being surrounded by a ring of positive cases from Greater Sydney through to the Hunter-New England and the North Coast.
Mr Barilaro flagged earlier in the week that there was a "50-50" chance of lockdown being lifted at 12.01am on Sunday, and that potentially some regional local government areas would be released before others.
On Wednesday, he said that a decision on when and how lockdowns could be lifted was still under discussion.
"We as a crisis cabinet will have to make a decision: do we want to go on a LGA approach, or do we want to go on a state-wide approach? That's a decision that hasn't been made, but once we make that decision, if we are prepared to go on an LGA approach, we can set some criteria around that," Mr Barilaro said.
"It could be something like there are no cases, no segments through the sewage surveillance and you're not an adjoining LGA to a LGA that may have cases. They could be the three criteria that you apply and that could easily, in my mind, work out who opens and who doesn't.
"But that's only if, once we map this out across the board, what that looks like as a footprint on regional/rural NSW and what risk that then poses for those areas that have no cases."
The comments followed another record day of new COVID-19 cases in NSW, with 633 identified in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday.
With the situation seemingly getting worse, not better, residents of regional NSW have been urged to continue following the health advice to the letter and to get vaccinated.
"The majority of people are doing the right thing and I've got to say thank you for doing that. These people are keeping themselves, their families and the community safe. But, again, we don't want to see a small minority of people doing the wrong thing because you're putting everything at risk," Mr Toole said.
"Stay at home orders are about trying to lessen any mobility at the moment so that we can stop the spread of this virus while people are getting vaccinated as quickly as possible."
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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