COVID-19 infections across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) have dropped back down into single digits, with two new cases in the Wagga local government area (LGA).
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To 8pm Thursday night the health district reported eight new cases in total, with three in the Albury LGA.
Two infections were reported in Wagga, while single cases were diagnosed in the Greater Hume Shire, Snowy Valleys and Griffith LGAs.
Currently 98 per cent of those over 16 in the MLHD have had their first dose of a COVID vaccine while 94.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
For those aged 12-15 across the district 84.2 per cent have had one dose, and 74.4 per cent have had two.
Yesterday COVID infections across the MLHD rose to double-digits following two days of relatively low numbers.
12 new cases were reported on Thursday, including five in Griffith, three in Wagga, three in Albury and one in the Murray River LGA.
Yesterday MLHD COVID-19 coordinator Emma Field said there had been "a considerable decrease in the numbers over the last couple of days", with the "far majority" of recent cases linked and involving household contacts.
She said that the health district isn't concerned about community transmission at this stage and are pleased with testing rates, with more than 550 people in Wagga tested in just one day recently at MLHD clinics.
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The MLHD says the "vast majority" of COVID-19 patients across the district are being cared for via the hospital in the home program, with no patients currently in the ICU.
NSW Health will be contacting people diagnosed with COVID-19 and their close contacts directly, as well as those who need to follow specific health advice.
"If you receive a message from NSW Health, it is important that you follow the advice in that message," an MLHD spokesperson said.
On Friday 261 new cases of the virus were reported across the state, and no deaths, from 73,027 tests.
92.2 per cent of those over 16 across NSW are fully vaccinated, while 94.5 per cent have had their first dose. There are 185 patients in hospital with COVID across the state, including 27 in the ICU.
Vaccinations can be booked at more than 100 providers across the Riverina by using healthdirect.gov.au.
Testing hours at MLHD clinics in Wagga will be changed on Friday and resume normal hours from Saturday. Today, the drive-through clinic at Wagga Showground will be open from 9am to 12pm, while the Murray Street clinic will be open from 10am to 6pm.
The regular hours for testing at Murray Street is between 9am and 4pm daily or the drive-through site at Wagga Showground until 6pm daily. Testing is also available 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 on 1800 831 099.
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