High demand for COVID testing ahead of holiday travel; Kempsey school closes

There were nine new cases of COVID-19 reported in the District to 8pm yesterday, December 13.

Six cases are from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA) and three are from the Nambucca Valley LGA.

Two of the cases are linked to a known case or cluster and the source of the infection of seven cases is being investigated.

Two people are receiving care and treatment in hospital.

Kempsey West Public School has closed after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19.

It follows the closure of Hastings Secondary College's Westport campus in Port Macquarie.

There have been 588 cases reported in the District since the beginning of the current NSW outbreak.

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Meanwhile to the south, there were 224 new COVID cases in the Hunter-New England Health District (HNEHD) to 8pm, December 13.

The majority of recent cases are expected to be the Omicron variant. This has been confirmed by genome sequencing for two cases to date.

NSW Health last night alerted the public to a new venue in Newcastle, Finnegan's Hotel, 21 Darby Street, and also remains concerned about the escalation in COVID-19 transmission at the Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle.

Close to 150 people of the 650 people who attended the Argyle House nightclub have tested positive to COVID-19, with more cases expected.

With record numbers announced in the Hunter, HNEHD is urging the community to seriously consider deferring any social events in Newcastle until after Christmas in order to help keep family Christmas gatherings safe, and to help protect their loved ones, the vulnerable and essential workers.

There continues to be high demand for COVID-19 testing at our clinics across the Mid North Coast.

Healthcare workers and support staff are working exceptionally hard to test everyone, including people with symptoms and those requiring testing for interstate travel.

Drive-through testing clinic opening hours are:

People are urged to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 and keep coming forward for testing if you experience any symptoms.

For COVID-19 updates, including testing and vaccination clinic details and information about self-isolation, visit www.nsw.gov.au

You can now receive a booster vaccination five months after your second dose, with both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available.

If you had your second dose in July or earlier you are eligible for a booster.

Book at www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/vaccination/get-vaccinated/boosters

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