Vaccine hubs open to frontline workers

NSW officially opened three COVID-19 vaccination hubs at Liverpool, Royal Prince Alfred and Westmead hospitals this morning, as it works to vaccinate more than 35,000 frontline workers in the next three weeks.

The state recorded no new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases overnight, with just one case detected in quarantine.

“While today marks 36 days with no reported locally acquired cases in NSW, there is still a risk of COVID-19 spreading into the community given that new cases are regularly detected among overseas arrivals,” NSW Health said in a statement.

“It is critical that everyone continues to come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of symptoms.”

NSW Health plans to vaccinate 35,100 frontline workers in the next three weeks, with a second jab to follow three weeks later. 

“The initial three-week vaccination phase will see hotel quarantine workers given the Pfizer vaccine – including all workers within quarantine hotels, those screening arrivals at the airport, health staff, cleaners, NSW Police officers and security guards,” the health authority said.

“Healthcare workers with the greatest exposure to potential COVID-19 patients will also be included in the first round of vaccinations, which will be rolled out progressively.”

Meanwhile, the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected traces of the virus at the Glenfield treatment plant, which serves more than 161,000 people in south-western Sydney.

“People who have recently recovered from COVID-19 can sometimes continue to shed virus fragments into the sewerage system for several weeks even after they are no longer infectious,” it said.

“While there are a number of recently recovered cases in this area, NSW Health is encouraging everyone to be vigilant for any symptoms of COVID-19 and to get tested immediately and isolate if they appear.”

Please be alert for symptoms if you live or work in the suburbs of Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Currans Hill, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Gilead, Glen Alpine, Glenfield, Gregory Hills, Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Kearns, Kentlyn, Leumeah, Long Point, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville and Woodbine.