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NSW Central Coast residents have been asked by NSW Health not to visit aged care facilities over the Father’s Day weekend even though no cases have been reported in local nursing homes.
According to the COVID-19 statistics page on the NSW Health website, as of 4.30 pm on the afternoon of Friday, September 4: “NSW Health confirms the advice for residents of the Sydney Metropolitan, Nepean Blue Mountains and Central Coast regions to not visit friends and family in aged care facilities will continue through this weekend.
“This decision has been reached after careful consideration of the risks of COVID-19 being introduced into an aged care facility while the CBD cluster is brought under control.
“While we understand and acknowledge this will be difficult for many families on Father’s Day, our priority is to prevent the spread of the virus to the most vulnerable people in the community.
“We encourage people to make the best of the COVID safe measures the aged care sector has put in place to make contact with their loved ones, including through audio visual links and window visits.”
The Central Coast Local Health District stopped reporting stand-alone COVID statistics on its website months ago. The Point has contacted the LHD media unit to confirm there are no active cases of COVID 19 in any local aged care facilities. We will report the outcome as soon as we know.
Information about the Woy Woy to Sydney train case (which occurred on 24 and 25 August) did not make it into the public domain for several days so NSW Health and the Central Coast LHD need to make sure the public is informed as quickly as possible of any cases.
NSW Health had reported eight new cases from over 23 thousand tests for the 24 hour period to 8pm on Thursday, 3 September. Total NSW cases since the beginning of the pandemic now sit at just shy of 4000 and 2.25 million tests have been conducted in the state.
All Australian states and territories, including Victoria continue to perform well by world standards. High levels of testing, early detection and public awareness are the key ways to keep Australia safe from major outbreaks.
Over 26 million cases have now been reported globally. That’s more than the population of Australia. Sometimes it pays to live on an isolated island at the bottom of the world. Any steps to open either state borders or Australia’s international borders in the name of economic recovery would be a premature and reckless step. Let’s hope our premiers stand up to the Morrison Government and keep boarder restrictions strong.
Stay safe and happy father’s day.
