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Dubbo remains at "the heart" of concerns over the growing western New South Wales COVID-19 clusters, with the number of cases detected across the region in the latest outbreak nearing 400.
Key points:
- There were 35 new COVID-19 cases detected in western New South Wales to 8pm Wednesday
- The bulk were in Dubbo, but other locations included Forbes, which recorded its first case ever
- Testing numbers have dropped again, causing concern for authorities
To 8pm Wednesday night, 24 new cases had been recorded in Dubbo, three in Orange, and two in both Bourke and Bathurst.
Each of Wellington, Mudgee, Parkes and, for the first time, Forbes, recorded one new case.
Fragments of the virus have also been found in Brewarrina's wastewater.
Referring to western New South Wales, Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said that area of the state was "at the heart of concern".
"That's a fairly blunt way to put it, but the risk is there for not just our communities but communities near us," Mr Saunders said.
However, just 10 people were infectious while in the community, an improvement over previous days, according to Western Local Health District chief executive Scott McLachlan.
ABC Western Plains: Jake Lapham
)Drop in testing
However, testing numbers across the region were down significantly, with only 4,600 tests taken yesterday, compared to highs of around 10,000 a day last week.
In Bathurst, only 430 swabs were taken, compared to more than 1,000 in similarly-sized Orange.
Mr McLachlan said new testing machines were being rolled out across the region, which would provide results in under an hour and would reduce previously sluggish result times.
One case was detected in Bathurst after the person presented to the local hospital's emergency department for treatment for a separate condition.
Some staff and patients are now isolating due to potential exposure to the virus.
Patients are also being treated for COVID-19 at the Bourke Multi-Purpose Service as well as the Orange and Dubbo hospitals.
One person is on a ventilator and three people are in intensive care.
Health system strained
Across the district, a "growing number" of staff have been affected by the growing cluster, with 134 people now in isolation due to exposure to people with COVID-19.
He said a campaign would be launched in the next day to recruit staff to backfill vacancies.
In a silver lining, he said, an additional nine people have recovered from the virus, bringing the district's total of recovered cases to 29.
Mr McLachlan warned that daily cases were likely to continue wavering between 25 and 35 for at least another week, but hoped a dropping number of people infectious in the community would be evident.
He slammed anti-vaxxers telling "lies" that were creating "unnecessary fear" about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.
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