BUSINESSES will have to inform health authorities if three workers test positive for COVID in the same week and may be able to trade on with rigorous safety measures once vaccination rates allow the state to begin re-opening, new health advice reveals.
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NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the new advice, which will come into effect from October 11, on Sunday. It includes guidelines to allow businesses to assess the workplace risk if a case is identified and confirm what actions will be taken.
The advice also mandates 14-day isolation for anyone who tests positive, while vaccinated close contacts must get tested and isolate for seven days. For a week after that they must not attend hospitality settings, work from home if possible and stay clear of high-risk environments including their own workplaces.
Unvaccinated close contacts must get tested and isolate for 14 days, with a second test required on the twelfth day.
Mr Hazzard warned that freedoms due to arrive from next Monday are not set in stone, and that they could change if the burden on health systems became too much.
Hunter cases jumped by 82 on Sunday, more than 10 per cent of the NSW-wide 667 new detections.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard described the NSW number as "quite a dramatic drop in the last three weeks" but chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said areas including Newcastle and Maitland remained concerning because "we are seeing seeding" in the cities.
981 COVID cases were in hospital as of 8pm Saturday night, with 195 requiring intensive care across the state. Of the deaths recorded in Sunday's update- six women and four men - two were aged in their 50s, four in their 60s, two in their 70s and two in their 80s.
"Three people were from south western Sydney, three people were from western Sydney, one person was from south eastern Sydney, one person was from the Eastern Suburbs, one person was from the Wollongong area, and one person was from the Nepean Blue Mountains area," NSW Health said.
"Four people were not vaccinated, four people had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and two people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The two people who had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine both acquired their infections in aged care facilities."
Another 43 cases were added on the Central Coast.
Vaccination rates are creeping close to 90 per cent for first doses, with 88.1 per cent of people over 16 inoculated. 66.5 per cent of the population over 16 years old were fully vaccinated by midnight on Friday.
Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
