Contact tracers are closing in on a link between a beach party at Blacksmiths Beach and a growing COVID-19 cluster at the University of Newcastle.
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The number of positive cases in the Hunter grew to 17 on Sunday with the addition of six new cases.
By Sunday evening there were also reports that positive cases had occurred at Newcastle Basketball Stadium and the Williamtown RAAF base.
"Defence can confirm that a person working at RAAF Base Williamtown has tested positive for COVID-19. A comprehensive public health response is now underway under the direction of NSW Health," a spokeswoman said.
"RAAF Base Williamtown was already subject to the Hunter Region stay at home orders, and all appropriate measures are being taken in accordance with NSW Health requirements."
Sunday's new cases were among 262 new locally acquired infections reported across the state. Seventy two of the individuals were in the community while infected.
A male young adult and a male in his 20s linked to the Blacksmiths Beach party and a female young adult and a male in his 20s linked to the University of Newcastle made up four of the Hunter's new cases.
"There seems to be a tenuous link between that (university) cluster and a party at Blacksmiths Beach, which Sydneysiders attended. We have now confirmed the link with the Sydney visitors," Public Health physician David Durrheim said on Sunday.
International House and Oval Number 2 at the Callaghan Campus have been listed as sites of concern.
Hunter New England Health said any student who is a resident of International House or who was at International House between Wednesday 28 July and Saturday 7 August is considered a close contact.
The order only applies to residents of International House or those who were there during the specified times, not other students on campus.
Anyone who attended Oval Number 2 between 5:30-6:42pm on August 4 is considered a casual contact.
In an update to staff and students, University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky said the affected students were receiving care from Hunter New England Health and the university.
"We understand that the situation on Callaghan Campus is upsetting and we also appreciate those of you who have sent messages of support to our impacted students living on Callaghan campus," he said.
"If you have not been to the above venues of concern during the specified time periods, then continue to observe the relevant health orders in place for where you are living right now."
A female student from Morisset High School was also among the new cases.
The infection source for the sixth case, a man in his 30s from Raymond Terrace, remains under investigation.
"We have some idea where the link may be but that is not completely solved yet," Dr Durrheim said.
A person from the Newcastle area working in Boggabri who initially recorded a low-level positive result was retested on Sunday and received a negative test.
Armidale recorded one new case, adding to the two previous cases.
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The positive case at the RAAF base prompted BAE Systems, which is adjacent to the base, to shut down as a precaution.
"We have robust business continuity plans in place which are under constant review as the situation evolves and we continue to work closely with employees, customers and suppliers to minimise any impact to our operations," BAE BAE Systems Director Aircraft Sustainment and Training Andrew Chapman said."
We're closely monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 on the operations of our business and we are continuing to work closely with our customer and stakeholders."
Newcastle Basketball said on Sunday evening that it had been advised a member had tested positive to COVID-19.
The member had been present at the stadium on Friday July 30 from 4pm-6pm, Sunday August 1 from 2pm to 5pm and Tuesday August 3 from 7.30pm to 10pm.
"Members who were at the stadium during those times should isolate and get tested," Newcastle Basketball said.
Meanwhile anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times are considered close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, and await further advice from NSW Health:
- Shortland Hotel, Shortland - Front Bar and Bottle Shop on Wednesday 28 July from 8.25pm - 8.55pm
- Star Nails, Westfield Kotara on Thursday 5 August from 12.56pm - 1.59pm
- Glassons Charlestown Square on Thursday 29 July from 4.26pm - 4.41pm
Anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times are casual contacts (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received:
- Dominos, Mayfield on Wednesday 4 August from 6.30pm - 6.45pm
- Metro Petroleum, Williamtown on Friday 6 August from 11am - 12pm
Police issued 169 infringement notices in the Hunter and Central Coast for breaches of COVID-19 protocols on Friday and Saturday.
The offenders included three men who were pulled over in a ute Maitland on Saturday night. Police allege two of the men traveled to the hot spot Liverpool in Sydney to pick up the vehicle and bring it back to the Hunter. Both were fined $1000. The third man was arrested on other matters.
Dr Durrheim said compliance with public health orders was critical to beating the virus.
"We need to avoid gatherings. We have seen how devastatingly quick how quickly this virus can spread in family groups or when people gather. Avoid gatherings at all costs," he said.
"The thing we have been doing so well is getting tested if we have any signs or symptoms... Very importantly please do not go out after that test. You have got to home and isolate until you have a negative result."
Business Hunter chief executive Bob Hawes warned extending the Hunter lockdown beyond 12 August could be devastating for parts of the Hunter's economy.
"It's troubling that we're still hearing media of reports of selfish acts in clear defiance of the health orders. It's not on and we should be loathed as a community to allow a difficult situation to get worse," he said.
"The hardest hit sectors in the Hunter region of Accommodation and Food Service, Arts and Recreation alone employ around 26,860 people, provide around $21.7 million per week in wages, and generate $80.6 million in average weekly output. The economic contribution by these sectors has been devastated.
"I can't imagine these sectors sustaining extended lockdowns knowing the activity here in the Hunter was already struggling when Sydney first went into restrictions.
"We should heed the pleas of the government and health officials. If people continue to bend the rules, we're looking at continual shutdowns.
Hunter New England Health has also clarified the process for determining close and casual contacts.
"It's both and art and a science," Dr Durrheim said.
"When people go into a venue the risk is often much higher. If more than one person goes into the venue the risk may be higher depending on their viral load," he said.
"The type of venue is absolutely critical - small congested venues are a much higher risk than much larger venues or outdoor venues. We use all sorts of additional data to make sure how long the person has been in the venue and the exact times as well.
"This is where you QR code check in is so valuable to us and yourself. You may not be caught up as a close contact or a casual contact if you QR coded at the right time. We use other types of things as well like people's ubers and Opal cards, bank statements, frequent flyer points.
"All of this helps us get as clear a picture of when people were in and when they left venues. All of that helps to determine if that is a casual contact venue or a close contact venue."
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