Wollongong and Shellharbour COVID-19 clinics have seen a surge in people getting tested in recent days as the region reported its first two confirmed positive case in weeks.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District acting director of public health Victoria Westley-Wise said the district had maintained extremely strong rates of testing with almost 54,000 tests conducted locally to date.
"We have seen an increase in presentations at the Wollongong and Shellharbour clinics in recent days and we thank the local community for coming forward to be tested," she said.
"This ensures cases are identified as quickly as possible and helps stop the chain of transmission."
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On Thursday, the ISLHD reported the first new case was a returned traveller who is in hotel quarantine in Sydney, and the second was the previously identified Wollongong man in his 30s, who is isolating at home.
A third positive case, which is linked to the South Western Sydney outbreak which started at the Crossroads Hotel, had been found in a person who dined at Rashays in North Wollongong on July 11 between 7-9.30pm.
That person also attended C1 Speed Indoor Karting and Laser Tag at Albion Park Rail between 6-7pm.
Ms Westley-Wise said the district's assessment clinics' surge planning has allowed the ISLHD to meet the increased testing activity.
"We have additional plans in place to accommodate further demand, including the ability to establish pop-up clinics if required," she said.
"Our hospitals and health facilities are more prepared than ever for any increase in COVID-19 cases in the region.
"We have pandemic response plans in place, and we continue to review these plans to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively.
"We have worked incredibly hard in recent months to prepare our intensive care capacity, our critical care staff and our infrastructure.
"We are now in the strongest position to flex up or down as needed in all key areas and we are ready to respond if needed."
Anyone feeling unwell, regardless of their age, with even the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, is urged to immediately self-isolate and get tested.
The advise is stay at home and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19.
Anyone feeling unwell, regardless of their age, with even the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, is urged to immediately self-isolate and get tested.
Stay at home and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19.
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