Hunter records six new COVID-19 Cases

BY JARROD MELMETH

NSW has recorded 284 cases of COVID-19 to 8pm Sunday night, with at least 64 infectious within the community.

Over 133,000 tests were conducted in 24 hours, with some of the Hunters results coming through in these numbers. Its predicted the extent of COVID in the Hunter will be known in the coming days with the high volume of testing finally making its way through the labs.

Of the 284 cases recorded, six are in the Hunter with three under investigation. This brings the regions case numbers to 23 and 26 for the wider Hunter New England Health District.

Tamworth will go into a snap seven day lockdown as a result of a COVID-positive woman who contracted the virus in Newcastle travelling to the region before lockdown for the Hunter was announced. The woman visited a number of venues which are now listed as COVID exposure sites in Tamworth.

NSW Health are concerned about a number of new COVID exposure sites in the Hunter which includes:

• Mr Rice Takeaway on Darby Street Cooks Hill between 3.00pm and 3.20pm last Wednesday 
• Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant at any time between Saturday the 31st of July and Thursday the 5th of August 

Anyone who visited either venue during those time is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result. 

Other venues of concern also include:

• Dominos at Mayfield last Wednesday between 6.30pm and 6.35pm
• Coles Medowie last Wednesday between 6.15pm and 6.45pm
• Aldi at Raymond Terrace last Thursday between 4.05am and 4.30am
• the Metro Service Station at Williamtown on Friday between 11am and 11.20am

Anyone who visited any of these venues is considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Driver dies in a Serious Crash near Scone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A driver has died after a serious accident on the New England Highway at Scone.

Emergency services were called to the highway near Parkville just after 8 o'clock this morning following reports a ute had collided with a truck.

The 21-year-old male driver of the ute died at the scene while the male truck driver was trapped in the vehicle for a short time.

The truck driver, a 61-year-old man, has now been flown to the John Hunter Hospital with possible lower leg and neck injuries.

The highway is closed in both directions while police try to figure out just how the accident occurred.

There are diversions in place for light vehicles and larger vehicles are being parked.

Union Hopes to Secure 80 Jobs for Ingham's Workers

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Workers at the soon to be closed Ingham’s processing site at Cardiff have been thrown a lifeline by rival Baiada Poultry.

Baiada has struck a deal with the Meat Workers Union to hold discussions over taking up to 80 of the workers who aren’t seeking redundancies.

Ingham’s is set to close the Cardiff site in August, citing the need to reduce expenditure as the main reason.

Baiada are set to employ 80 of its rivals staff [Source: Newcastle Herald]

Meat Workers Union Newcastle branch secretary Grant Courtney says the highly skilled workforce is being courted by many employers.

“We’ve also been contacted by JBS, which is the biggest meat processor in the world, based at Scone.  They’ve said if there’s any skilled workers that would like to apply out there, by all means,” he said.

Courtney says workers are also being asked to apply at another Baiada site at Tamworth, while other workers have asked for transfers to Ingham’s Sydney site.

“It’s one of our principle policies about employers having a moral obligation to employ locals first,” says Courtney who believes Baiada are doing just that.

“The company has always said we haven’t got enough skilled workers.  Well now we’ve got a fully skilled workforce that is available,” he said.

Around 360 full time and casual staff work at the Cardiff site and while Courtney admits he doesn’t know when they’ll move on to their new positions, he’s still overwhelmed with the outcome.

“I’m very, very happy and supportive of Baiada [for] taking the high moral ground on this issue and hopefully offering employment to the Cardiff/Novacastrian workforce,” he said.