After two confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Shoalhaven were announced on Friday, South Coast MP Shelley Hancock is "urgently" calling on Health Minister Brad Hazzard to open a mass vaccination hub in Nowra, and pop-up testing clinics at Huskisson and Vincentia.
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Mrs Hancock also wants all existing testing clinics to extend operating hours.
"We have watched the alarming spread of this relentless virus throughout Sydney and other regional areas," Mrs Hancock said.
"With two confirmed cases in the Shoalhaven, there can be no delay. I am calling on Minister Hazzard to set up a mass-vaccination-hub in Nowra as a matter of great urgency.
"We also need to rapidly increase our testing reach to residents in outlining suburbs in and around Huskisson and Vincentia as a matter of priority."
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Mrs Hancock said the hours of existing testing clinics in the Shoalhaven must also be extended.
"In addition to the confirmed cases, we know traces of COVID-19 has again been detected at the Bomaderry Sewage Treatment plant," Mrs Hancock said.
"Anyone with symptoms or anyone who believes they may have been exposed, must come forward for testing and we need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so."
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale said she encouraged people in Bomaderry to come forward and get tested after new viral fragments were detected at the Bomaderry Sewage Treatment Plant.
The Bomaderry sewage catchment serves over 18,000 people across Bomaderry, Cambewarra, Cambewarra Village, Meroo Meadow and some parts of North Nowra.
"And today I'd like to particularly encourage the residents of the following areas to come out for testing. And they are people in Jindabyne, Cooma, Bega, Bomaderry, Wauchope and Blayney," said Dr Gale in Friday's 11am COVID-19 briefing.
Vaccination uptake in the Shoalhaven
The efforts of the Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres cannot go unrecognised, as they have administered almost 19,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Practice principal Annette Pham confirmed the practice is expected to break 20,000 doses at their Pfizer clinic at the Worrigee Medical Centre this Saturday, September 4.
Find an updated list of testing sites in the Shoalhaven here.
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