Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported within Wagga on Wednesday, while 93 per cent of Murrumbidgee Local Health District residents are now fully vaccinated against the virus.
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The MLHD today reported 14 new cases of COVID, the same number reported on Tuesday.
Five of today's cases are residents of the Albury LGA, and five are from the Federation LGA. Four are residents of Wagga.
As of Wednesday 97.8 per cent of MLHD residents over 16 have received their first dose of a COVID vaccine, while 93 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Of those aged 12-15 across the health district 83.2 per cent have received their first dose, and 69.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.
"Vaccination is the best way to protect our kids, families and the wider community from COVID-19," an MLHD spokesperson said.
"This is an important step in getting our community back to a 'COVID-normal' environment and importantly, to protect others who may be more vulnerable to illness."
On Tuesday Ashmont Public School in Wagga closed for cleaning and contact tracing after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19.
The school remains non-operational today to continue contact tracing efforts, with all staff and students asked to self-isolate until they receive further advice.
Ashmont Public became the fourth Wagga school to close in just over a week due to COVID cases being identified. The first was Kooringal's Sacred Heart Primary School, which has since reopened with 61 close contacts in isolation.
Holy Trinity and Henschke Primary School's in Wagga also had to close last week, and have since reopened following contact tracing and cleaning.
Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga (CEDWW) director Elizabeth O'Carrigan confirmed that cases at the schools have been among students, and that they haven't heard of anyone becoming seriously unwell due to the virus.
"We haven't had any outbreaks in our secondary schools for quite a number of weeks now and I think that's probably due to higher rates of vaccination," she said.
"Our school leaders have been absolutely marvellous in following all the guidelines that we issued to them."
When contacted by The Daily Advertiser the MLHD was unable to provide data on individual cases linked to these schools, including how many close contacts have been identified, saying that these people will be contacted directly with further information.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The way exposure sites are reported has shifted as the country moves towards a 'living with COVID' approach, with NSW Health no longer routinely listing regional and rural NSW case locations or exposure sites on its website.
MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford yesterday said the decision to stop publishing the sites is better for businesses that will no longer have to face the fallout of being listed as an exposure site.
Wagga Business Chamber's business manager Serena Hardwick said it was a "complex issue" to balance in keeping residents informed and preventing long-term impacts on the business community.
Meanwhile, Riverina residents who cannot use the Service NSW check-in app will not have access to the same information regarding COVID exposure venues as part of this change.
Tracey Oakman, the MLHD's public health director, said the people who have signed in another way would be contacted by NSW Health if they need to isolate or get tested.
The MLHD is currently managing the clinical care of 107 patients with COVID-19.
Two of these patients are in hospital, including one patient in the ICU. The rest are receiving care in the community.
Across the state on Wednesday no COVID-related deaths were reported, however the daily case number has risen to 231 - up from yesterday's 212 new cases.
The state's over-16 population is now 91.3 per cent fully vaccinated against the virus, and 94.2 per cent have had their first dose.
In NSW there are 207 COVID patients in hospital, with 33 in the ICU. More than 88,000 tests were conducted yesterday, up from the previous day's total of 67,893 tests.
More on the pandemic
Vaccinations can be booked at more than 100 providers across the Riverina by using healthdirect.gov.au.
Testing in Wagga is available at the MLHD's Murray Street testing clinic between 9am and 4pm daily or the drive-through site at Wagga Showground until 6pm daily, at Laverty Pathology's drive-through site in the Riverina Playhouse car park off Tarcutta and Cross streets from 8am daily, and at the GP-led respiratory clinic at Glenrock in Glenfield Park between 9am and 5pm weekdays.
"Anyone currently experiencing, or who has recently experienced, even mild cold-like symptoms is asked to come forward for testing," an MLHD spokesperson said.
"If you have any symptoms it is important that you isolate until you can be tested and until you get a negative result.
"Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches or pains, and a change in taste or smell."
For further testing locations across the district go to www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au, or for help accessing a test call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline 1800 831 099.
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