With eight new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Shoalhaven on Monday, it serves as a reminder as to how quickly the Delta-variant can spread, says Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley.
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Cr Findley stressed that residents with even the mildest of onset symptoms should get tested immediately.
"Delta spreads really quickly and we've been really lucky up until last week," she said.
"It's just a reminder to us all that how quickly this virus spreads in our community and how it really is absolutely imperative that people get tested as quickly as possible.
"With a lot of spring flowers in the air, a lot of people will be blaming their sniffly noses on hay fever, but even those who are prone to hay fever at this time of the year should get tested as well."
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NSW recorded 1,281 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of those numbers, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District recorded 21 new cases of COVID-19, with the Shoalhaven recording eight, Wollongong recording nine and Shellharbour recording four.
Cr Findley added that given COVID-19 case numbers are hard to predict, vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting the virus.
"What we're being told on a regular basis now from NSW health is that it's highly likely that everyone in a household, if one person gets it, then everyone in that household is going to is going to get that," she said.
"So vaccination is our first line of defense."
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Cr Findley encouraged residents to get tested and to "share the load" across the five testing sites in the Shoalhaven.
"There are no differences in testing times," said Cr Findley.
"There are five sites set up across the Shoalhaven at this point in time. So just get tested at a site and don't wait.
"Don't just go to the one site at the Shoalhaven Hospital because you think it's going to be quicker for your results. That's not true. The results are coming through very quickly.
Cr Findley reiterated that people should access financial assistance if they miss work due to isolating while waiting for test results.
"If people have to isolate while they're waiting for their test results, look on the New South Wales state government site to see how they can access financial assistance," she said.
NSW Health has not yet released new data on any new exposure sites in the Shoalhaven.
WHERE TO GET TESTED
NSW Health has provided the following details of testing clinic opportunities in the Shoalhaven:
Sussex Inlet Histopath - Drive-through Clinic - starting Sunday 5 September, Sussex Inlet Aquatic Centre, 21 Thomson St, Sussex Inlet
8am - 4pm - 7 days
Bomaderry Histopath Drive Through Clinic
Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre Carpark, 90 Cambewarra Rd, Bomaderry
8am - 5pm - 7 days
Huskisson Southern IML Drive Through Clinic
Huskisson Scout Hall Carpark, Kioloa Street, Huskisson
8am - 5pm - 7 days
Shoalhaven District Hospital
2 Scenic Drive, in the Hospital in the Home (HITH) area. Phone: 1300 002 108. No appointment, no doctor referral required. Open 8:30am-12:30pm and 1.15pm - 4.30pm - seven days.
Nowra Southern IML Pathology Drive-Through Clinic
57 Junction Street, Nowra. No appointment, no doctor referral required. Open 9am-5pm - Monday to Friday.
North Nowra Southern IML Pop up Drive-Through Clinic
Bernie Regan Sporting Complex, West Cambewarra Road (enter via Illaroo Road), No appointment, no doctor referral required, Open 8am-5pm - seven days (usual hours).
Nowra Showground Laverty Pop up Drive-Through Clinic
West Street, Nowra. No appointment, no doctor referral required. Open 8am-2pm - Monday to Friday; 8am-12noon Saturday and Sunday.
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