NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty repeated his calls for people living in the Newcastle area to seriously consider postponing Christmas gatherings after three new super-spreader venues in the city were identified by local health authorities on Thursday.
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Higher numbers of cases were also reported in south-eastern Sydney health district (279 new cases),western Sydney (266 new cases) south-west Sydney (261 new cases),central Sydney (201 new cases) and northern Sydney (165 new cases),totalling 1172.
Cases are being driven by a number of exposures in Newcastle and Sydney nightlife spots,primarily among attendees in their 20s. Close to 100 people linked to a Sydney music event tested positive in the past week and 50 cases were linked to three Newcastle venues.
“It is likely many of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,” the department said on Friday morning.
Anyone who attended the following venues is asked to monitor for symptoms and,if they arise,to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until a negative result is received.
- The Great Northern Hotel from 12.01am until close on Saturday,December 11.
- Finnegan’s Hotel from 7pm until close on Saturday,December 11.
- The Cambridge Hotel from 7pm until close on Saturday,December 11 and 6pm until close on Sunday,December 12.
Finnegan’s Hotel andThe Cambridge Hotel have both previously also been listed as exposure sites for Friday,December 10.
On Thursday afternoon,a public health alert was issued for a Taylor Swift-themed party in Sydney last week after at least 97 people linked to the event tested positive to COVID-19,including some likely to be the Omicron variant.
All 600 attendees at “On Repeat:Taylor Swift Red Party”,held at the Metro Theatre on George Street from 9pm on Friday,December 10,have been categorised as close contacts and must get tested and isolate for seven days.
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The Lunar Electric Music Festival,scheduled in Newcastle this weekend,has also been cancelled under a public health order due to the ongoing spread of the virus in the area and “extensive transmission” of COVID-19 at several other venues and events.
Restrictions only eased for music festivals in NSW on Wednesday,allowing up to 20,000 attendees,and organisers had planned to have free masks available.
“We have done everything we could,and followed all government directives in the lead up to this event,” festival organisers said online. “However,NSW Health has deemed the current outbreak situation too high risk for a festival to take place this weekend.”
First and second dose vaccination rates have remained stagnant:94.8 per cent of people aged 16 and over have had one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 93.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.
In 12- to 15-year-olds,the first-dose coverage is 81.4 per cent,and 77.9 per cent double-dose.
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However,the bulk of shots being administered are nowbooster doses. NSW Health administered more than 11,600 on Thursday,a figure which does not include those done at GPs and pharmacies.
Dr McAnulty asked people to get their booster shot if eligible,as well as maintain good hand hygiene,wear a mask when unable to socially distance and consider taking a rapid antigen test before socialising with others,in light of the increased rates of community transmission in the state.
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