The number of healthcare workers in isolation has increased to more than 150, with the western region health chief concerned about the impact COVID is having on the system.
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The number of workers in isolation is now 156, with 21 of those classified as 'workplace exposures' and needing to isolate for 14 days.
Western NSW LHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said the situation is starting to "put real pressure" on existing services, and that "we will need extra support in coming weeks".
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- 23 additional cases in Dubbo (total 259)
- 5 additional cases in Parkes
- 2 additional cases in Wellington
- 2 additional cases in Bourke
- 2 additional cases in coonamble
- 2 additional cases in Gilgandra
- 1 additional case in Narromine
The total across the Western LHD is 320. Of concern is the fact the majority were infectious in the community, while almost half of all cases were aged under 20.
Testing numbers improved on Monday with 8,200 conducted across the region, and 3,700 of those were in Dubbo.
Thirteen people are in hospital, with 4 in ICU and one person ventilated. The number of people recovering at home has grown to 321.
The walk-in vaccination hub run by the Australian Defence Force and NSW Health continues to be popular, and will be held at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday.
There are plans to relocate once again to Pioneer Park, at a date to be determine.
The Dubbo vaccination clinic is now running at the Woolpack Pavilion at Dubbo Showground. Bookings are essential for that service.
Meanwhile, pharmacies in Dubbo are reporting a continuing surge in the number of people wanting to get vaccinated, since they were supplied with AstraZeneca earlier this month.
Terry White pharmacy at Delroy Park had 800 people take up the AstraZeneca vaccine last week, while Priceline pharmacy has been operating at capacity.
Terry White pharmacist Kaail Bohm said any hesitancy towards vaccinations, in particular the AstraZeneca, had "definitely decreased".
"(COVID) was previously thought of as a Sydney problem, that's no longer the case, it's right at our doorstep now...people are just happy to be vaccinated," he said.
"Last week we did just over 800 vaccinations, that put us at number three in the Terry White network nationally."
Priceline pharmacist Greg Shearing said the highest uptake has been "overwhelmingly" in people under 60 years-old.
"These are people that are desperate to get vaccinated, they know the science, they understand the science, they accept it, and they're just frustrated that they haven't been able to access anything in the past," he said.
The next available dates for Priceline are the second week in September.
Mr McLachlan urged residents to consider the AstraZeneca, at Tuesday's COVID update.
"We've seen some research come out of the UK that says over a 30, 60 and 90 day period, AstraZeneca is actually more effective than a vast majority of the other vaccines with Delta strain," he said.
Mr Bohm is working to help improve vaccination rates and will be available at Apollo Estate over the weekend.
"I'm going to do a bit of a walk around on Saturday, see if anybody wants to have a bit of chat to me and try and break down those barriers...if anybody is keen I'll roll up on Sunday and vaccinate a few more people."
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