THE REGION is bracing for growing COVID-19 case numbers after Tamworth, Inverell and Moree recorded new infections in the latest update.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall confirmed he had been told of one new case in Moree that has been linked to the funeral held in the town on Thursday last week.
Tingha Public School has been closed for contact tracing and deep cleaning after a confirmed case of coronavirus attended, Mr Marshall said.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant made a "big call out" to the communities of Inverell and Moree in the Wednesday update and urged the community to get vaccinated, tested and follow health advice.
"The risk of community transmission is increasing at these sites," she said.
Dr Chant said both regional towns had a "significant group of people" in the population that were yet to be protected by the coronavirus vaccine.
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The latest data shows the Moree double dose vaccination rate was 76.4 per cent while Inverell was at 77.5 per cent.
The official numbers announced by Hunter New England Health (HNEH) on Monday show one new case in Inverell, one new case in Moree and two new cases in Tamworth.
Mr Marshall said he was aware of a total of four active cases in Inverell - three in Tingha and one in Inverell.
Testing has been ramped up in response to the regional outbreaks and is now available at:
- Moree hospital (Tuesday - Friday) - 8:30am - 3pm
- Gateway Swab Clinic (Tuesday - Friday) - 8:00am - 4pm
- Moree Respiratory Clinic Pius X AMS (Tuesday - Friday) - 8:30am - 3pm
- Boggabilla Community Health Centre (Tuesday - Thursday) - 9am - 1pm
- Mungindi Pius X Building Walker Street (Tuesday - Wednesday) - 10am -12pm
Vaccination appointments in the Moree area are available and can be booked online.
HNEH has confirmed anyone who attended the funeral in Moree on Thursday last week or the event at Pius X afterwards is considered a casual contact and must get tested immediately and isolate until receiving a result.
Another test should be taken today or tomorrow, and close contacts will be contacted directly.
Moree has had four consecutive positive sewage detections for COVID-19 since October 19, more than a week before the funeral was held.
No exposure sites had been listed in Moree, Inverell, Tingha or Tamworth as at Wednesday morning.
A fresh testing site has opened in Tamworth at the Granny Munroe park in Coledale, it will swab locals between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday and Thursday this week. No bookings are required, all ages welcome.
Schools in Inverell and Armidale have reopened today after they were closed for deep cleaning earlier this week due to COVID cases in both communities, Mr Marshall said.
Tamworth South Public School reopened yesterday after it was closed earlier this week.
More vaccination opportunities have opened for the Tamworth area's smaller towns.
Walk-in Pfizer vaccine clinics will open in the region's smaller towns in the coming days after Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS) teamed up with the local health district.
Anyone aged over 12 years can access the jab without a booking.
Kootingal clinic will open on Thursday from 9am to 11am at Cockburn Cottage on Denman Avenue, and will return three weeks later on November 25 for second doses.
The service will move to Moonbi that afternoon between 1pm and 2:30pm at "Chook Park" and will also return on November 25.
A walk-in hub will run in Bendemeer from 10am to 1pm on Monday and again on November 29 at 87 Caroline Street.
Pfizer jabs will be going in arms at Somerton Hall between 9am and midday on Tuesday and again on November 30.
Barraba has recorded another positive sewage detection for the COVID-19 virus which is concerning to authorities due to no known cases in the area.
Residents have been urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if any appear.
The HNEH added 35 new cases of COVID-19.
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