POP-UP COVID-19 testing sites have been hurriedly established throughout the Wentworth Shire at the weekend as “grave fears” grow about the virus spreading into western New South Wales.
Residents have been put on high alert as all of regional NSW spiralled into lockdown following concerns about the spread of the current Sydney outbreak.
The new orders came into effect at 5pm on Saturday which means that residents in the Wentworth Shire must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave.
All hospitality venues must be closed to the public, including pubs, restaurants and cafes, except for takeaway.
Residents also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.
There is also a NSW ban on either training for or playing community sport, placing major doubt on the ability to see out both Sunraysia and Millewa football and netball competitions this season.
Matches went ahead at the weekend without crowds, but with clubs on both sides of the Victorian/NSW border, the spread of COVID-19 into the regions and tightening of restrictions are threatening to put a premature conclusion to the competitions.
Both NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said they were concerned about the escalating situation in western NSW, especially in relation to vulnerable indigenous communities.
“I can’t stress enough the seriousness of the current situation and my grave concern that these case numbers will continue to escalate,” Dr Chant said.
“While we have put in additional controls everyone needs to have a great sense of responsibility to follow the rules.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews indicated on Sunday there was some advice that the NSW spread of the virus had reached the Wentworth Local Government Area on the Victorian border.
“We’ve got a person in Wentworth today, haven’t we?” Mr Andrews said at his daily media briefing.
“Hopefully that’s not a case, hopefully we get a negative test for that person at some point,” he said.
A spokesperson said there had been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) area.
The weekend events prompted the FWLHD to establish pop up COVID testing clinics at Dareton, Wentworth and Gol Gol which began operating on Sunday and will continue until further notice.
A FWLHD spokesperson said high testing rates remained critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
“It is important that everyone continues to watch out for any signs that could indicate COVID-19 and to get tested if you have even the mildest of symptoms,” the spokesperson said.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of taste or smell. Other reported symptoms include fatigue, acute blocked nose (congestion), muscle pain, joint pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unexplained chest pain and conjunctivitis.
Local NSW clinics are at George Gordon Oval (Dareton), Wentworth Show Grounds and Gol Gol Football Oval and will operate 10am to 4pm daily.
People should immediately self-isolate until they receive a result which largely happens within 24 hours.
About 800 people of the Wentworth Shire’s 8000 population have been tested so far.
The joint NSW Police Force and Australian Defence Force operation — Operation STAY AT HOME — begins on Monday with increased fines of up to $5000 for COVID breaches.
The FWLHD has also closed its facilities for patient visitors during the new stay-at-home restrictions and anyone with an appointment to attend Outpatient Department will be contacted to confirm an alternate plan for the appointment.
“We ask for your understanding, support and patience during this time as we move through the current stay-at-home restrictions,” the spokesperson said.
