Nine people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 on the Mid North Coast after a woman aged in her 60s was confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday, March 24.
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The woman is now in home isolation after travelling overseas. The Mid North Coast Local Health District has made contact with people who might have been impacted by the diagnosis, asking them to self-isolate for 14 days.
For privacy reasons the District will not be disclosing specific location information of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
A public health alert may be issued if additional information needs to be shared in relation to specific gatherings, events or geographical locations.
On Monday, March 23, according to the Mid North Coast Local Health District, a man in his 40s, a woman aged in her 60s and a man in his 70s tested positive for the virus after returning home from overseas. All of them were in home isolation.
On Sunday, March 22 two men from the Port Macquarie-Hastings area were diagnosed with COVID-19 after travelling overseas.
One man, aged in his 80s was admitted to hospital. The other man, aged in his 50s, is in home isolation.
A 14-year-old female student from St Columba Anglican School, who did not travel overseas, was the first person to contract the virus in Port Macquarie.
On March 16, a couple who live on the Mid North Coast and who are aged in their 60s were in isolation in Sydney after returning from overseas and testing positive for the virus.
On Monday, March 23 Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick said the 14-year-old remains in home isolation and is currently doing well.
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Mid North Coast Local Health District is speaking with close contacts of the new cases, who are asked to self-isolate for 14 days from the day of last contact.
They will be contacted daily to check they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus.
The District has opened COVID-19 assessment clinics at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey. Call 1300 001 956 for details.
"These clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, and local health workers," Mr Dowrick said.
"People without symptoms do not need to be tested.
"The District is asking everyone in Mid North Coast to play a part in containing the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes, maintain social distance and staying home if you're unwell."
The Port Macquarie clinic is open from 10am to 4pm weekdays. Patients are asked to present to the emergency department where they will be assessed and directed to the clinic as required.
As of 8pm on March 22, there are 669 confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW.
For further health advice, visit the NSW Health website.
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