PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
A new COVID-19 case has been confirmed in the Newcastle area today.
The new case is a male teenager, and we are continuing to investigate the source of his infection.
Hunter New England Local Health District is urging anyone who attended St Pius X High School (Adamstown) on Monday 3 August to be on the lookout for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested immediately should any respiratory symptoms or fever occur.
The school has been notified and will be closed to allow contact tracing and thorough cleaning to occur.
The teenager caught the Number 26 school bus (Hamilton to Adamstown) to school on Monday 3 August, at 8.20am. All people on the bus at this time will be required to isolate for 14 days and seek testing.
He is also a team member of the Newcastle Jets under 15’s representative squad who played a soccer match against the Stanmore Hawks at Arlington Oval in Dulwich Hill on 1 August. The teenager’s team mates and the members of the opposing team are considered close contacts and will be required to isolate for 14 days.
All close contacts of the teenager will be notified and required to isolate for 14 days.
Hunter New England Health is still working to identify any further contacts or venues visited by the teenager, and additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
It is vital people in the community continue to present for testing if experiencing symptoms to limit the spread of the virus.
We urge everyone to please follow directions they receive about home isolation and quarantine, and maintain COVID-safe practices of physical distancing, coughing or sneezing into their elbow, and regularly washing their hands.
COVID-19 TESTING CLINICS:
Hunter New England Health continues to operate a number of COVID-19 clinics at hospitals in the Hunter region.
The University clinic also continues to operate 8am to 4pm, seven days a week. Those wishing to be tested must contact the drive-through clinic on 4964 7497 during operating hours to arrange an appointment prior to attending. Children under the age of 5 are unable to be tested at this clinic and should attend their nearest ED or local GP so a full medical assessment can be undertaken.
The 4Cyte Pathology’s COVID-19 clinic at Central Church Warners Bay (290 Hillsborough Rd) operates between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 11am Saturdays, and no booking is required. More information can be found on their website at www.medtechservices.net.au.
Testing is also available through Laverty’s Adamstown Drive Through COVID-19 clinic (91 Victoria Street). The clinic operates between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday and 9am and 4pm Saturdays, and no booking is required.
We have expanded our call centre capacity and the number of phone lines available to improve booking wait times for our community. If the clinic you are hoping to visit is busy, you can find other local options by visiting the NSW Health website or calling your GP.