Contact tracers “are sparing no effort” to help the Hunter region navigate its way through the current COVID-19 outbreak.
After 53 people tested positive for the virus, including cases at the RAAF Base in Williamtown and at a few local schools, residents are being encouraged to do their bit to stop the spread.
Hunter New England Health Public Health Controller for the COVID-19 response Dr David Durrheim said we all have a role to play to get through the lockdown.
“All of us must make sure we avoid any congestion, any groupings and gatherings [because] that’s where we’ve seen this virus spread,” he said.
“The Delta strain just takes off in groups and it is very difficult to stop.
“It’s very transmissible and we’ve seen it get into young people and, in young people who are so socially active, it can be very difficult to track down all of their contacts.
“During this time of lockdown we ask every single person who’s got any symptoms, no matter how mild they may be, even just a scratchy throat or a runny nose, to go and get tested.
“Please be patient, we know the queues are long but your contribution is absolutely vital.”
Dr Durrheim added contact tracers are working as hard as they can.
“Contact tracers are sparing no effort to contact every case and their close contacts as soon as possible, identifying anybody who poses a risk to the community and making sure that they isolate,” he said.
“But this is a team game, it is a very frightening game at times but all of us have to do the right thing.
“Contact tracers make sure that all venues that may have been exposed during the infectious time of a case are identified.
“They then go through a thorough process of actually linking up with the venue and going through all of the material to try and narrow down exactly who are close [or] casual contacts and who are not contacts.
“In some venues, for example schools, it’s quite easy to identify precisely the people who actually have been exposed.
“If there are no additional community contacts then those sites don’t need to be listed and often aren’t listed on the NSW Health website.”
For more information on exposure sites or testing clinics, go to the NSW Health website.
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