6 September 2021

UPDATED: Venues of concern released for Goulburn, Cooma and Yass, no word on Batemans Bay case

| Kim Treasure
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John Barilaro

John Barilaro said there were now cases recorded in Batemans Bay, Cooma, Goulburn and Queanbeyan/Googong. Photo: Supplied.

UPDATED 5:45 PM: Health authorities have released venues of concern for Goulburn, Cooma, and Yass after seven new COVID-19 cases in the NSW South East but Batemans Bay residents still have no official word about whether the case there was in the community while infectious.

Eight hours after Bega MP Andrew Constance revealed there was a COVID-19 case in Batemans Bay, the Southern NSW Local Health District released a statement confirming seven new cases across the region – two in Goulburn, one in Queanbeyan, one in Karabar, one in Googong, one in Batemans Bay and one in Cooma.

It also released a list of venues of concern for Cooma, Goulburn and Yass, but nothing for Batemans Bay.

The statement said: “The Batemans Bay and Cooma cases will be reported in tomorrow’s numbers, as the notifications came in after 8:00 pm last night. These are the first COVID-19 cases at Batemans Bay and Cooma since the start of the Sydney outbreak.

“SNSWLHD’s Public Health Unit is working with a number of venues to inform close contacts of infectious cases. Anyone who was present at one of the venues of concern, during the times listed … is considered to be a casual contact and should get tested and isolate immediately.”

The venues are:

  • The Reject Shop, Goulburn, 3 September, 11:20 am to 11:30 am;
  • Coles, Goulburn Shopping Centre, 1 and 3 September, 7:45 pm to 8:00 pm and 11:15 am to 12:10 pm respectively;
  • First Choice Liquor, Goulburn, 3 September, noon to 12:25 pm;
  • Caltex, Goldsmith St, Goulburn, 5 September, 10:25 am to 10:40 am;
  • Free Choice Tobacconist, Goulburn, 5 September, 10:20 am to 10:25 am;
  • Old Pacific Inn, Goulburn, 10:40 am to 11:00 am;
  • Smokemart, Goulburn, 5 September, 10:10 am to 10:20 am;
  • Woolworths, Sloane St, Goulburn, 5 September, 8:45 am to 10:15 am;
  • Shell West, Cooma, 30 August, 7:45 am to 8:15 am;
  • STIHL Shop, Cooma, 1 September, 9:00 am to 10:00am;
  • Goulburn Tyre & Exhaust Centre, 2 September, 10:00 am to noon;
  • IGA Yass, 2 September, 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm;
  • Caltex Yass, 4 September, 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm.

Anyone who checked in to a venue of concern during the times listed, using the Service NSW QR app, will be notified by SMS from NSW Health. Contact the Public Health Unit on 02 4825 4944 if you were at one of the venues during the times listed above, but have not already been contacted by SMS or phone call.

Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms is urged to get tested.

2:45 PM: Harden is the latest town in the capital region to be put on high alert after a visit by an essential worker who later tested positive for COVID-19.

The worker stayed at The Light Horse Hotel in Harden-Murrumburrah on Friday night (3 September) while potentially infectious.

The person undergoes regular routine testing and is now isolating outside the area.

However, while in Harden they also visited the IGA between 4:45 pm and 5:15 pm on Friday and South West Fuel between 6:10 am and 6:45 am on Saturday.

SMS messages will be sent to people who were at the venues at these times and checked in with a QR code.

Health authorities say all venues had COVID-19 business safety plans in place, which has helped to minimise the risk to customers and staff, but anyone with even the mildest of symptoms should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

There are no new cases of COVID-19 in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, and no positive sewage detections reported today.

11:15 AM: Deputy Premier John Barilaro has confirmed more than half a dozen COVID-19 cases across the Southern Area Local Health District.

Mr Barilaro said there were three more cases in the Queanbeyan/Googong areas and two confirmed cases in Goulburn to 8:00 o’clock last night.

Since 8:00 pm, a further case has been confirmed in Batemans Bay and one in Cooma.

There were eight new cases recorded in the Shoalhaven.

The figures were released as part of NSW’s daily briefing, with case numbers across the state hitting 1281 and five deaths recorded.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she expected case numbers to peak in the next week or so.

NSW Health is currently caring for 11,000 people suffering from the COVID-19 virus.

More details are expected at Mr Barilaro’s afternoon regional update.

READ ALSO COVID vaccination rate target ‘within reach’ for NSW south east

9:30 AM: Batemans Bay has recorded its first positive COVID-19 case in more than a year, although no details have yet been released.

Member for Bega Andrew Constance took to Facebook this morning (6 September) to announce the case, the first linked to the Delta outbreak in South East NSW.

“We now have a number of confirmed cases throughout the Southern Area Health District,” Mr Constance said.

“Concerning on the coast is one case in Batemans Bay, so we are now obviously going to see the health department and public health units do the necessary contact tracing with those who have been infected.

“There is no doubt that this is spreading to our region, which is bad news for us all.

“We are in lockdown for a reason, so please, whatever you do, minimise your travel, please be vigilant, get tested and get vaccinated.”

ABC South East NSW is also reporting a positive case in Cooma where virus fragments have been detected in the sewage system three times since the start of the current outbreak.

READ ALSO Far South Coast COVID-19 concerns grow

Separately, Trappers Bakery in Goulburn has been identified as a venue of concern related to an ACT-based case. Anyone who visited this venue on Thursday, 26 August, from 8:45 am to 9:15 am is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is confirmed.

More details are expected at this morning’s COVID-19 update.

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Hi I’m in the Batemans bay why are they leaving it so long to report hotspots it was reported last night but they still haven’t said a word I think we are past being alarmed and want to no straight away it is vital 2 days later is just way to late not saying people are not doing enough it’s just timing is crucial.

Since your update I believe Bega has a Covid Case. If that is the case. NSW Regional will be in Lockdown for another 2 weeks. Simply because nunbers are far too high.

Why are people still travelling, so inconsiderate and thoughtless.
STAY AT HOME PEOPLE….PLEASE.

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