THE Western NSW Local Health District's single active case of COVID-19 has recovered and the district is looking at its options for another vaccine hub in Bathurst, according to chief executive officer Scott McLachlan.
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The case, at Molong, had been active since mid-July.
"It was over the typical 14-day period, which isn't totally unusual," Mr McLachlan said of the active case's recovery.
"We know that people have had active COVID cases longer than that 14-day period.
"We're still learning the way this current Delta strain impacts on different age groups and different people.
"What we know is that it's deadly, it spreads fast, it's infectious and it could be on our doorstep any day of the week, so please, everyone, this is time to be very vigilant.
"Don't hesitate if you've got any concerns, any signs and symptoms, however mild.
"Please come forward and get tested."
The health district's Bathurst vaccination hub in William Street moved to seven days a week early last month and Mr McLachlan said the health district was looking at its options for another site.
"We are looking for additional locations to scale up even further our vaccination hubs in Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst," he said.
"We are working away at that, but it will be some time yet before we see a further increase to the vaccination supply to enable that to happen."
More than 80 per cent of people in the Western NSW Local Health District, however, are receiving their vaccination through their GPs, he said.
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After COVID fragments were found in sewage testing at Mudgee and Dubbo last week, and with Armidale, Tamworth and some North Coast communities having gone into lockdown in the meantime, Mr McLachlan warned again that the virus was on the doorstep in the region.
"I know everyone feels as though we're on a precipice of a lockdown," he said.
"But the sewage testing is just one sampling and detection tool that we've got to try to figure out if there is some COVID.
"What we're really looking for is to identify the person or people that have COVID in both Dubbo and Mudgee.
"Their potential exposure and connections with close contacts will be the biggest determinant of what happens in terms of any lockdown or restrictions.
"We know that it is only a matter of time, I think, until COVID does see our region again."
Drive-through testing is continuing in Bathurst (at Mount Panorama), as it is in other communities in the Western NSW Local Health District.
