WE NEED to ensure there is little - if any - COVID-19 circulating in the Hunter and remain cautious as restrictions are eased, public health officials have warned.
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At least 2300 people have been swabbed at the new six-lane drive-through clinic at McDonald Jones Stadium since Friday, and despite more than 35,000 tests for COVID-19 within the whole health district, cases remained unchanged at 277 on Monday night.
Hunter New England had recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in almost a fortnight on Sunday.
But public health physician Dr David Durrheim said the latest case - a resident of Hunter New England - had been quarantined in a "hospital hotel" in Sydney since returning from overseas, and had not been back to the region.
Dr Durrheim said they had been testing "vigorously" for COVID-19, particularly in east Lake Macquarie, the greater Newcastle area, Maitland, Taree, Armidale and Tamworth.
"It has been exciting to see that already over 2300 people have been tested at the mega clinic, and obviously the results are still coming through but have so far been negative, which is excellent news," Dr Durrheim said.
"I think we need to establish there is very little virus, if none at all, circulating in the community with the relaxation of measures. The harder we look now, and jump on the virus, the better.
"The proportion of people now being tested gives us a lot more confidence that we are looking hard for the virus and not finding it.
"But we have to remain cautious because as measures relax and people travel more - particularly outside of the Hunter area - the opportunity for reintroduction of the virus is very possible. "We know they are still finding unknown source cases in Sydney and in Melbourne, so as people travel more the possibility of importation of virus is a real threat.
"We have to remain on the alert, and continue testing."
"And we need to still practice those excellent measures which have helped us so far - standing back, making sure we don't take coughs and colds and sneezes out into the community, and really being absolutely meticulous about our hand hygiene as well."
It was essential people did not become complacent.
"People need to remain very, very cautious," he said.
"We saw, in the last week, what happened when South Korea - which had been doing a wonderful job at containing the virus - relaxed their measures and opened up clubs. The virus took off again.
"One individual who was infected apparently visited five night clubs, and the number of cases are growing.
"We can't be too cautious with this virus. We have to make sure that the hard fought gains aren't lost."
The mega clinic at McDonald Jones Stadium will operate until May 17. Prior to attending, appointments can be made via 4964 7497.
In addition to the McDonald Jones Stadium service, Hunter New England Health continues to operate clinics at Calvary Mater Newcastle, John Hunter, Maitland, and Belmont hospitals for Newcastle and Hunter locals.
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, is urged to get tested.
Dr Durrheim said while people aged 40 and above had been making "good use" of the new clinic, they would like to see more people in their 20s and 30s being tested for the virus.
"It has been an amazing effort from everybody involved, which includes the community, and the public health measures have worked well," Dr Durrheim said.
In NSW, there was one additional case of COVID-19 diagnosed since 8pm on May 9, taking the state's total to 3053.
Nearly 310,000 people have now been tested for the virus across NSW.
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