A Kiama woman has spoken out about her family's pain after her husband was announced as a case for the LGA earlier this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sally Metcalf said she wanted to reassure the community after they found he was a false positive.
"This has been a very emotionally difficult time, but I want to place the community I love at ease," she said on social media.
NSW recorded five deaths and 1405 new local COVID-19 cases, premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday.
Of those, 23 were from the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health district (Wollongong 10, Shellharbour 12 and Shoalhaven one), down from Wednesday's region-wide record of 32.
The deaths take the toll for the current outbreak to 153.
There are currently 1175 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW, with 202 in intensive care and 80 ventilated.
Warrawong Accident & Medical Centre closed for a deep clean after a "possible exposure to COVID-19" on Saturday, September 4, a sign on the surgery's door read.
Additional exposure days and times for Meadow Street Grocers and Deli, Tarrawanna, have also been announced on the NSW Health website.
Parts of regional NSW - but not Shellharbour, Kiama or the Shoalhaven - will prepare to be released from lockdown on Saturday.
The entire state is currently locked down and police are cracking down on compliance measures as authorities battle to contain the spread of the virulent Delta strain.
However, this will begin to wind up for all regions from October when the government expects double-dose vaccination coverage in NSW to reach 70 per cent.
The government said it would not put a specific date on this change, with freedoms to be restored the Monday after the milestone is reached. These freedoms will only be for the fully vaccinated.
They include up to five visitors allowed inside a home where all adults are vaccinated, and up to 20 people gathering in indoor settings.
Hospitality venues can reopen subject to the "four square metre" rule, as can retail stores.
The unvaccinated may only access critical retail outlets such as supermarkets.
Personal services such as hairdressers can reopen with the same four square metre rule, as can gyms, and swimming pools can reopen.
Stadiums can again host events, capped at 5000 people, and up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries can also reopen, and up to 50 vaccinated guests can attend church services, weddings and funerals.
Travel to regional NSW for the fully vaccinated will also be permitted again
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.