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Pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic set up in Hamilton South

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A pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic has been established in Hamilton South to offer swabs to residents of community housing complexes in the area.

It comes after two new locally-acquired infections were registered, although one will be announced in Monday’s statistics as the notification came in after 8pm on Saturday 11 September.

Both positive cases belong to people who live in housing complexes on Hassall Street and Glebe Road.

A Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) spokesperson said investigations and contract tracing were underway.

“We’re offering swabs to those in the two identified buildings as well as those who reside in the surrounding blocks,” they explained.

“This is as a precaution to help identify any potential transmission and help stop the spread of COVID-19 among residents.”

The HNELHD experienced a drop in cases overnight, recording just seven.

Three occurred in the Newcastle LGA, two in the Lake Macquarie LGA and one in the Port Stephens LGA.

Mid-Coast LGA, which falls within the district perimeter, boasted one, too.

It raised the overall figure in the HNELHD to 292 since 5 August.

In the Newcastle LGA, the cases appeared in Hamilton, Mayfield and Wallsend.

All three were infectious in the community, with two linked to a known case and the other under investigation.

In the Lake Macquarie LGA, the Balcolyn and Fishing Point residents were infectious in the community and linked to known cases.

In the Port Stephens LGA, a Soldiers Point local was infectious in the community.

They are linked to a known case.

In the Mid Coast LGA, a person in Booral was infectious in the community.

Ten of the total active cases are currently being cared for in hospital, with one in ICU.

There were also sewage detections of COVID-19 viral fragments in Tamworth, Dungog and Karuah reported overnight, which may indicate undetected infections.

“This is the first time the viral fragments have been detected in the Dungog and Karuah sewage catchments,” the HNELHD spokesperson said.

“Anyone in these communities with any respiratory symptoms should immediately get tested and isolate while they wait for their results.”

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