The Western NSW Local Health District confirmed on Thursday what was likely no surprise to the Bathurst community: the region will leave lockdown with the rest of NSW on Monday, October 11.
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Thursday's announcement came after a number of new cases of COVID-19 were recorded across the electorate, both in Bathurst and Oberon.
In the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday, Bathurst recorded three new cases of COVID-19, two of whom were infectious in the community, while Oberon registered 12 new cases.
WNSWLHD chief executive officer Scott McLachlan said all three new cases in Bathurst were linked to a previous case, and continued his strong words of upping testing rates, getting fully vaccinated and strict compliance with public health orders.
"In the coming days and weeks, I expect there will be further increases in number of people contracting COVID across NSW, particularly as some of the restrictions are eased," Mr McLachlan said.
"What we've seen over the last fortnight in both Cowra and Oberon is that new cases and locations of concern can pop up any day, so this is the time to be super vigilant; with changes set to come from October 11, we want to be in a steady place, with as lower case numbers as possible across the district."
The federal government has previously indicated only 'highly targeted lockdowns' will be necessary once Australia hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated [at 53.42 per cent as of September 30], and Mr McLachlan said the WNSWLHD will "have to adapt" in future weeks and months as more people get vaccinated.
"We know vaccination rates will be important helping stop people from getting really crook from COVID and, pleasingly, lower numbers of vaccinated adults are picking up COVID, but it's certainly no time to be complacent, even when lockdown ends."
Bathurst MP Paul Toole echoed Mr McLachlan's statements by stressing the importance of stringently sticking to the public health orders post-lockdown.
"We still need people to get tested immediately if they experience any flu-like systems, the virus will still be around post-lockdown," Mr Toole said.
"It's crucial we get 90 per cent 'double jabbed' to lessen the risk of COVID running rampant locally."
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
