Six correctional officers at Bathurst Jail in western NSW have tested positive for COVID-19, as the region recorded 25 new cases.
Key points:
- Contact tracing is underway at the jail
- Impacted inmates are being isolated and tested until further advice
- Twenty-five new cases in the region were recorded up to 8:00pm on Saturday
The facility is currently in lockdown with no movements in or out, and the officers are isolating with contact tracing underway.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole confirmed the cases in a social media post.
"I've been informed that Rapid Antigen Screening (RAS) will be implemented at the site as an additional screening method to temperature testing and standard existing COVID-19 screening questions," he said.
A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW confirmed six correctional staff from Bathurst Correctional Centre had returned positive results for COVID-19 since Thursday.
The spokesperson said all officers were in isolation and the staff and their families were being supported.
"The CSNSW COVID Command Post is working with NSW Health to support the contact tracing process in custodial facilities to identify anyone who has had contact with the positive cases.
"Impacted staff are being directed to go for immediate COVID-19 testing and to isolate.
"Impacted inmates are being isolated and tested until further advice, " the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said there was nothing to suggest the outbreak was linked to a cluster of 12 cases at the Parklea Jail in western Sydney.
MP says things have not calmed down
There are now 510 active cases in the region, with 25 new cases confirmed on Sunday, down from 42 the previous day.
Eighteen were in Dubbo, three in Narromine, two in Bourke and one in both Brewarrina and Nyngan. Nine were infectious in the community.
Wilcannia in the far west had a further two cases.
"I can tell you there are at least that numbers that are being investigated right now which will possibly be added to tomorrow's numbers so it's not an indication that things have calmed down.
"In fact, there is still more concern about particular parts of our region."
ABC Western Plains: Jake Lapham
)Reinforcements arrive
Upwards of a dozen additional healthcare staff from Sydney arrived in the west on Sunday to bolster the COVID response.
The contingent of mostly nurses will work at hospitals around the Western Local Health District.
NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said he was confident the system would cope with the increasing caseload.
"We've also got additional assistance nationally and through the military to assist in the far west and western NSW."
Vaccination clinic to return
An Australian Defence Force pop-up vaccination clinic will leave Dubbo on Sunday but return in the coming weeks to administer second doses.
"This crew is now heading out to do Mudgee, Gulgong, Rhylstone, Candos, Coolah, Dunedoo," Mr Saunders said.
He urged anyone with symptoms in western NSW to get tested.
"Only 3,400 people were tested on Saturday, a "very low number," Mr Saunders said.
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2021-08-29 07:29:27Z
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