Illawarra-Shoalhaven warned of ‘increasing’ COVID cases as region records two more deaths

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-22/wollongong-woman-and-kiama-man-die-due-to-covid-19/100482964

ABC Illawarra / By Ainslie Drewitt-SmithPosted Wed 22 Sep 2021 at 3:33pmWednesday 22 Sep 2021 at 3:33pm

A low high-rise building that says "Piccadilly Centre", with a smaller sign saying "Motor Inn".
The Piccadilly Motor Inn on Crown Street has officially been declared a “high risk” premises. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)

Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this articleabc.net.au/news/wollongong-woman-and-kiama-man-die-due-to-covid-19/100482964COPY LINKSHARE

Another two COVID-related deaths have been recorded in the Illawarra as case numbers in the region continue to rise.

Key points:

  • Another 62 cases were confirmed in the LHD on Wednesday
  • Both people who died had underlying conditions and had received immunisation shots
  • No new cases from two locked down buildings have been confirmed, but a third premises has been deemed “high risk”

A man from Kiama and a woman from Wollongong were among five deaths confirmed across the New South Wales today.

Their deaths bring the local total to three — a Wollongong woman in her 80s died on Sunday.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the second woman was also aged in her 80s and died in Wollongong Hospital.

“She had received two doses of the COVID vaccine but had underlying health conditions,” Dr Chant said.

“A man in his 70s from Kiama died at Wollongong Hospital and he had received one dose of the COVID vaccine and had underlying health conditions.”

A bespectacled woman with highlights in her hair – Kerry Chant – speaks to the media in front of NSW Health branding.
Kerry Chant said both residents had other health issues.(AAP: Jenny Evans)

‘Increasing cases’

Of 1,035 cases recorded across the state in the latest reporting period, 62 were confirmed in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD).LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic

Thirty-four are from the Wollongong local government area (LGA), 20 are from Shellharbour, five are from the Kiama LGA and three are in the Shoalhaven.

Only 24 are linked to previously reported cases.

Dr Chant urged residents in the region to book in for a vaccination and get tested.

“I want to highlight that we are seeing increasing cases in the Illawarra area, in the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama area,” she said.

“Please come forward and get vaccinated.”

Driveway in front of Wollongong Hospital.
A woman in her 80s and a man in his 70s died in Wollongong Hospital on Tuesday.(Supplied: ISLHD)

‘High risk’ premises

There were three new cases recorded in the Wingecarribee Shire, bringing the total cases confirmed in the LGA since the beginning of the Delta outbreak to 32.

There were no new cases reported from two apartment buildings under lockdown in Wollongong, but NSW Health officially declared the 35-room Piccadilly Motor Inn on Crown Street a “high risk” premises.

What you need to know about coronavirus:

At least three people on the premises have tested positive.

The order, signed by deputy Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale, commenced at 10:30am on Wednesday.

Under the order, the building will remain closed for 14 days.

Play Video. Duration: 5 minutes 18 seconds
Families and kids share their lives in lockdown

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s