22 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Illawarra Shoalhaven

In a statement released today, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Director Public Health, Curtis Gregory, said:

In the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday, 1 September there were 22 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) residents.

This brings the total number of community acquired COVID-19 cases in the District to 110 since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.

Of the new cases:

* 15 are from the Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA)

* Seven are from the Shellharbour LGA

* 11 are linked to known exposures or family clusters and investigations are continuing into the other 11 cases.

Despite an increase in the number of local COVID-19 cases in Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs, the majority of new cases are linked to known or household cases.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible and, as we’ve seen since the start of this latest outbreak, is particularly impacting households.

The stay at home restrictions in place are designed to limit interaction between people from different households and reduce mobility to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the community.

The Local Health District continues to urge people not just to comply with the Public Health Orders, but to make practical and sensible decisions that will limit your risk of acquiring COVID-19 and keep our loved ones and the broader community safe at this critical time.

A number of new casual contact venues have been confirmed. The latest exposure sites are published on the ISLHD Facebook page and the NSW Government website.

Anyone who attended any of the new venues listed on the specified dates and times is a casual contact (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received.

* Illawarra Mixed Business, 1/44 Steel Street, Cringila – Wednesday 25 August 2021, 2:45pm to 3:15pm

* Aldi Fairy Meadow, 102-110 Princes Highway - Saturday 28 August 2021, 11am to 11:50am

* Coles Fairy Meadow, The New Ambience, Elliotts Road – Saturday 28 August 2021, 12:05pm to 12:55pm and Monday 23 August 2021, 4:25pm to 4:55pm

* Coles Figtree, Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, Corner Princes Highway and The Avenue - Sunday 29 August 2021, 10:30am to 12pm

* Bunnings Kembla Grange, 640 Northcliffe Drive - Sunday 29 August 2021, 12:55pm to 2pm

* Mitchell's Market Warilla, Shop 10 & 11 Warilla Grove - Friday 27 August 2021, 3:30pm to 4pm

* Xtra Newsagency Port Kembla, 53 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla – Saturday 28 August 2021, 7am to 7:05am and Friday 27 August 2021, 7:05am to 7:10am and Thursday 26 August 2021, 6:55am to 7am

* Coles Wollongong, 200 Crown Street, Wollongong – Wednesday 25 August 2021, 9:25am to 9:40am and Saturday 21 August 2021, 12:55pm to 1:10pm

NSW Health contacts close contacts of all confirmed cases and directs them to be tested and self-isolate for 14 days from last contact, regardless of the result.

Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to immediately get tested. Even people with mild symptoms, such as fatigue, new muscle aches or pains, a change in taste or smell or a new runny nose, should arrange testing as quickly as possible.

Those who have also attended any of the exposure sites listed on the ISLHD Facebook page and the NSW Government website at the specified times and dates should also seek testing, regardless if they have symptoms or not and follow the NSW Health directions.

It is also important that anyone who is currently isolating in the community with COVID-19, calls for an ambulance should they experience a deterioration in their condition, including breathlessness and dizziness.

If you are eligible, please also come forward for vaccination as soon as possible (unless you are a case, contact of case, isolating or have symptoms). There are more than 100 NSW vaccination clinics and outreach locations across the state in addition to GPs and pharmacists.

Check your eligibility at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility.

There are a number of testing clinics across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven – visit the District’s website for a full list and updated opening hours and times. There are also more than 475 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. A full list of the clinic sites and hours is available on our website: https://www.snswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/our- services/infectious-disease/covid-19