The Shoalhaven Hospitals sub-acute mental health unit will remain repurposed as special health accommodation until mid-February as local COVID case numbers rise.
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PCR testing has revealed more than 200 new COVID infections in the Shoalhaven in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday.
This number does not include widespread cased confirmed with Rapid Antigen Tests.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District reported 1448 new COVID cases for the region in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday, with the majority recorded in Wollongong.
There are 896 new cases from Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA), 289 cases from Shellharbour LGA, 205 cases from Shoalhaven LGA and 58 cases from Kiama LGA.
The Shoalhaven postcode breakdown of the cases are as follows:
- 2535 - 9
- 2538 - 6
- 2539 - 32
- 2540 - 92
- 2541 - 66
The local health district confirmed there will be an extension of the temporary repurposing of the Shoalhaven Hospital's sub-acute mental health unit until mid-February as part of the COVID-19 response.
The unit was repurposed for use as a special health accommodation facility in September 2021 for COVID positive patients who do not need a high level of care or have living arrangements that make self-isolation at home difficult.
"Some staff usually providing care in the Sub Acute facility will continue to work within the area's Acute Community Mental Health Teams, where demand has increased since the start of the pandemic," a statement from ISLHD said.
"The district has increased the capacity of our community teams to ensure care can be provided to people needing support in their homes by virtual care, or face to face where required and safe to do so."
Acute mental health services remain in place across the district, according to ISLHD.
Non-urgent elective surgery has already been suspended until February.
Meanwhile, NSW has recorded 25,780 new COVID cases.
NSW Health notes that as more people use rapid antigen tests instead of PCR tests, the recorded number of infections will not reflect the true number of people who have the virus.
There were 71,325 tests reported to 8pm Monday, compared with the previous day's total of 84,333.
There are 2186 people in hospital across NSW, which includes 170 patients in intensive care - of whom are on ventilators.
NSW Health has reported the deaths of another 11 people, aged from their 70s to their 90s.
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