Health authorities report two deaths, 11 cases in southern NSW

Sadly, health authorities in Southern NSW Local Health District are reporting two deaths in the region this morning – one in Murrumbateman and the other a man from Queanbeyan.

SNSWLHD said a man in his 50s from Murrumbateman died at home. He was not vaccinated and was a patient of SNSWLHD’s Virtual Care Service.

The other man, also in his 50s from Queanbeyan, died at Canberra Hospital. He was not vaccinated and had underlying health conditions. The SNSWLHD extended its condolences to family and friends.

There have been 11 new COVID-19 cases in the district in the 24 hours to 8 pm yesterday.

This brings the total cases in SNSWLHD to 373 since the start of the current outbreak in June.

Of the 11 new cases:

• Four new cases are in the Queanbeyan Palerang region. Two cases are linked to known cases. Two are in Karabar, one is in Jerrabomberra and one is in Queanbeyan.
• Two new cases are in the Goulburn Mulwaree region and are linked to known cases. Both are in Goulburn.
• Four new cases are in the Snowy Monaro region. All are under investigation. Two are in Cooma and two are in Jindabyne.
• One new case is in the Bega Valley region and is under investigation. The case is in Bega.

SNSWLHD has been notified of new venues of concern associated with COVID-19 cases. The majority of them are in Jindabyne but the Caltex Woolworths in Bega, Bega Coles and Cooma Aldi are also included. The full list of venues of concern is here.

There has been one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District to 8 pm yesterday.

A resident from Wagga Wagga LGA has tested positive to COVID-19. The case is a household contact of a previously reported case and is in home isolation. All close contacts have been identified.

Health authorities say COVID-19 has been detected in sewage in Albury, Wagga Wagga and West Wyalong and are renewing calls for the community to come forward for testing.

There are no additional venues associated with known cases.

Meanwhile, Bega Valley Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick has confirmed two of the three cases reported in his shire yesterday (9 October) were Bega Cheese employees from the Ridge Street site.

“Bega Cheese management commenced a controlled shutdown of the affected location when they were notified by NSW Health, with staff, contractors and visitors asked to test and isolate until a negative result is received,” Cr Fitzpatrick said.

“Bega Cheese management has acted swiftly, responsibly and with an abundance of caution, and it is our understanding that a shire-wide lockdown won’t be imposed by the NSW Government due to overall high vaccination rates across the state.

“This, however, does not mean we should be complacent. Without a lockdown in place and with active cases in the community, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure we minimise the spread of COVID-19.

“The Delta variant is highly contagious, so more than ever we need to aware of the symptoms. If you have even the mildest headache, nausea, sore throat, runny nose, cough, loss of smell or taste, or fever, get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

“A drive-through pop-up test clinic is open this weekend at the Old Bega Racecourse in Bega. This will be running alongside the testing clinic at the South East Regional Hospital.

“If you’re out and about, make sure you check-in with the Service NSW app. With the state opening up from Monday and a roadmap in place we need to know all we can about where the virus is in our community, and this can only be done through testing, isolating and checking in to venues.

“We must all adapt to living with this virus, and we have responded to this with yesterday’s announcement of some changes to council services from 11 October, in line with the NSW Government’s roadmap.

“The Bega Valley Shire has proven many times before how adaptable and supportive we are in difficult times, and this is no different.”

NSW recorded 477 new COVID cases and six deaths in the 24 hours to 8 pm Saturday – the lowest figure since August 17.