NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing has urged regional areas of the state to remain vigilant and comply with public health orders to ensure COVDI-19's Delta variant doesn't raise its head in the Central West.
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Armidale recorded its first two confirmed cases of coronavirus since April 2020 on Saturday, following positive detections of the virus in the city's sewerage system last week.
Health minister Brad Hazzard ordered the city into an immediate seven-day lockdown. The stay-at-home order also applies to anyone who had visited the city since July 29, including that day.
Positive sewerage detections in Mudgee and Dubbo lead NSW Health officials to believe there's a case of COVID-19 in our region, too, but it is yet to be detected.
Tested ramped up in Dubbo over the weekend, with drive-through testing locations inundated.
There was 262 new locally required cases of the virus detected across NSW in the 24 hours leading up to 8am on Sunday. None of those cases were in the Western NSW Local Health District.
These alerts are of concern, as we know in Armidale, positive cases have since been confirmed.
- NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing on the detection of virus fragments in sewerage systems in Dubbo, Mudgee and previously Molong
Deputy Commissioner Willing, Regional NSW Field Operations, said policing operations will be bolstered as required to help protect regional and remote communities.
"The communities of regional NSW have been doing a great job to keep the virus out of their areas, and we need to keep up that good work; now is not the time for complacency," Deputy Commissioner Willing said.
"It's more important than ever that we fully comply with the Public Health Orders - and report breaches, especially relating to visitors from any of the areas subject to stay-at-home orders.
"In recent days, NSW Health identified high levels of virus fragments were detected in sewerage in a number of major regional centres, including Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, and Mudgee.
"These alerts are of concern, as we know in Armidale, positive cases have since been confirmed."
With stay-at-home orders currently in place for the Hunter Region and Armidale and Guyra areas, Deputy Commissioner Willing urged those communities to do their bit through compliance.
"The Public Health Orders have been introduced for the health and safety of everyone, and while there is a significant police presence, our officers would prefer to not issue fines," Deputy Commissioner Willing said.
"The message is pretty simple: if you don't need to leave the house, stay home.
"Regional communities are renowned for rolling their sleeves up and getting a job done, and just as they did in the Central West, I have no doubt the Hunter and Armidale communities will do what they have to do to eliminate COVID-19 from their areas."
Various restrictions remain in also place for across NSW, which are critical for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
"It only takes one person doing the wrong thing to spread the virus - and it's encouraging for police to continue to have the community's support through the reporting of this type of selfish behaviour," he added.
"I implore all regional communities to do what they do best in difficult circumstances - band together and support each other.
"The key to stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives is working together."
For more information about COVID-19 rules and restrictions, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au
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