Southern Health has confirmed a visitor who later tested positive to COVID-19 attended three clubs on the Far South Coast this month.
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It has been revealed a visitor to Club Malua on July 7, 8 and 12 also visited Club Narooma on July 13 and the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on July 8 and 10.
The contact for both Malua and Narooma bowling clubs was described as "casual". However both clubs took it upon themselves to shut down for deep cleaning and staff testing as a precaution.
Club Narooma CEO Tony Casu said the name of the patron was not disclosed, but that she had attended a district bowls meeting in the function room with 28 others.
The trio of club visits by the infected person came a week prior to a separate cluster of eight positive cases linked to the Soldiers Club, only one of whom was a local resident.
"Detailed contact tracing of recent COVID-19 positive cases in Batemans Bay has led to identification of additional locations that an infectious case has visited," a Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson said.
"This serves as a reminder for all local businesses to have in place a suitable COVID-Safe Plan, to help keep the staff and community safe."
SNSWLHD report no new cases in the district as of 2pm Thursday, July 23. A total of 23,784 tests have been conducted to date with 58 confirmed cases attributed to the LHD since the start of the pandemic.
As of Thursday, there are no current cases present in the Bega Valley, however testing is ongoing and everyone is urged to continue social distancing and following the advice of health authorities.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the next few weeks were critical. She urged people to avoid large crowds and think twice about going into any crowded place even with social distancing.
"I cant say enough how stressed and worried I am about the next few weeks," she said.
"We are at a critical point in our state's ability to deal with the pandemic.
"All of us have to really think about what we're doing in the next few weeks. The next few weeks are absolutely critical."
Hospital visitors restricted
In order to protect patients, staff and carers against the spread of COVID-19, the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) has taken steps to restrict visitor numbers to its facilities.
In the Eurobodalla, visitors to both Batemans Bay and Moruya District Hospitals will not be permitted until further notice, unless under exceptional circumstances in consultation with the general manager of the facility. The LHD will be encouraging the use of mobile and digital technology by patients to maintain contact with loved ones.
In other district health facilities, only one visitor at a time for no more than 30 minutes will be permitted, and a maximum of two visitors per day per person will be allowed until further notice.
Meanwhile mental health facilities are restricted to no visitors, with each location providing extensive video contact for family members and carers.
"The steps are necessary in order to protect against the potential spread of COVID-19, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of the community during this time."
SNSWLHD is urging anyone feeling unwell - even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose, scratchy throat cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, loss of taste/smell, nausea, diarrhoea or muscle aches - to self-isolate and seek COVID-19 testing, so cases in the community are identified as quickly as possible.
Even if they test negative, they should remain in isolation for the full 14 days, and should be tested again if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.
Guidance for self-isolation for close contacts is available by clicking here.
The need for scheduled appointments across many of the district's COVID-19 testing sites has been removed.
These sites include Goulburn Base Hospital, Queanbeyan District Hospital, Eurobodalla Health Service (Moruya), South East Regional Hospital, Cooma District Hospital, Jindabyne Clinic and Yass District Hospital.
Also included are the 'Pop-up' clinics at Hanging Rock, Merimbula and Crookwell.
This information is also available at www.snswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au. A number of smaller COVID testing sites will still be by appointment only (Pambula Hospital, Bombala MPS, Eden, Perisher and Thredbo) - call 1800 999 880 (option 2).