Increased COVID-19 Testing - Randwick, Waverley & Woollahra

Thursday 16 April 2020

INCREASED COVID-19 TESTING IN KEY
SOUTH EASTERN SYDNEY SITES

NSW Health has recommended increased COVID-19 testing for residents of Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra municipalities, along with several other Sydney sites.
Anyone who lives or works in Randwick, Woollahra or Waverley local government areas with a fever (at or above 38 degrees Celsius) or other symptoms of respiratory infection such as a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat, should seek COVID-19 testing.
Professor Mark Ferson, Director, SESLHD Public Health Unit, said while the district had the highest rate of testing for COVID-19 in NSW, particular areas required extra vigilance.
“A number of cases of COVID-19 infection in these local government areas do not have a link to travel or known cases, so we are concerned there could be cases of undetected infection in these areas,” Prof Ferson said.

“I urge anyone who is feeling unwell with a cough, fever, shortness of breath or sore throat who lives or works in Randwick, Woollahra or Waverley, to get assessed at one of the free COVID-19 clinics or their local GP. Anyone feeling unwell must stay at home except when seeking healthcare.

“It is important that everyone, especially those from Randwick, Woollahra and Waverley, follows infection control measures, maintains social distancing and is alert to symptoms of COVID-19.”
NSW Health has also recommended increased testing for the following local government areas:
Blacktown, Cumberland (and all of postcode 2145 including the suburb of Westmead), Greater Taree / Manning, Inner West, Lake Macquarie, Liverpool, Penrith, and Ryde. These areas have been prioritised as they have a small number of cases of community transmission where the source has not been identified.
Testing is free at the 60 testing clinics run by NSW Health. A list of COVID-19 clinics is available online at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-clinics.aspx

The NSW Government has already committed $800 million extra funding for NSW Health to help boost intensive care unit capacity and purchase additional services and medical equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE).

For accurate information and updates on COVID-19 people should go to the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx