THE COVID-19 case count in the rural community of Moree has exploded to more than 30 cases, as the entire region teeters on the brink of its first major outbreak.
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The Moree numbers surged to 33 new infections on Thursday, up from two new coronavirus cases in the past two days, the shire's first ever.
Moree added 30 of the cases, while two are located in Boggabilla and one in Mungindi, as the cluster spreads and creeps into other remote communities.
The Moree cases make up nearly a third of the total number of cases clocked across the entire Hunter New England Health (HNEH) district on Thursday.
Residents have been forced into isolation as close contact exposure sites are announced, including two "house parties" on Adelaide Street and Barwon Avenue last Thursday, and the Aero Club event on Saturday.
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A funeral last Thursday has also tragically been linked to new cases and anyone who attended has been confirmed as a casual contact.
The case count is expected to continue to balloon.
Moree Plains Shire mayor Katrina Humphries slammed health authorities on Wednesday for what she claimed was inaction and a lack of transparency that left the bush fending for itself.
She told ACM on Thursday morning that she was extremely angry and had still only been receiving information second-hand from a local MP on Facebook despite the unfolding situation.
She said she had not been told of any extra resources or support yet but said a "crisis" meeting with local leaders was taking place in Moree today.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said via a social media post that additional health staff from across the region had been deployed to Moree on Thursday.
He claimed no one in the community had yet been hospitalised with the potentially deadly virus.
Mr Marshall reported more than 600 swabs were taken in Moree on Wednesday alone, with more expected in the coming days.
Moree has not yet hit the 80 per cent vaccination target, with the double dose rate lingering at about 77 per cent.
Tamworth recorded nine new cases in the latest update on Thursday, and the testing site at Granny Munroe Park in Coledale is open again today.
The Tamworth cases are located in Oxley Vale, Tamworth, West Tamworth, Hillvue and Moonbi.
Inverell added another seven cases, Armidale recorded two new infections.
No further exposure sites have been listed by health authorities in the region, but it is understood at least some of the cases have been active in the community while infectious, though are now in isolation.
The HNEH district confirmed 103 across the area and the state clocked 308 new cases and four deaths.
Exposure sites
Inverell casual contacts:
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- Monday, October 25, from 9:30am to 2:30pm
- Tuesday, October 26, from 9:30am to 2:30pm
- Thursday, October 28, from 9:30am to 2:30pm
- Friday, October 29, from 9:30am to 2:30pm
Best Community Connections Respite Care on Sapphire Street in Inverell
- Friday, October 29 to Sunday, October 31 at all times invlusive
Moree close contacts:
House party on Adelaide Street on Thursday, October 28
House party on Barwon Avenue on Thursday, October 28
Aero Club event on Saturday, October 30
Moree casual contacts:
Funeral and wake on Thursday, October 28
Where to get a test
Moree area:
- 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
Tamworth area:
- Laverty Pathology drive through
- Granny Munroe Park
- Tamworth hospital
- Douglass Hanly Moir pathology
Where to get a vaccine
Appointments in Moree can be booked online via the federal government's vaccine checker.
Appointments in Tamworth can be booked the same way.
Walk-in Pfizer clinics are being held in Kootingal and Moonbi today and in Bendemeer and Somerton early next week.
More to come.
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