Hunter Businesses urged to start planning now for reopening

BY JARROD MELMETH

Hunter Businesses are being urged to start having conversations with their workforce in preparation for reopening when the state reaches 70 per cent fully vaccinated against COVID.

The state government released its roadmap on Thursday, outlining the freedoms for the fully vaccinated once the state reaches its key milestones.

Under the plans, staff and customers would have to be fully vaccinated to enter venues and would need to prove their vaccination status by signing in via a QR Code.

Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes says he understand there will be some awkward conversations between staff and patrons.

"It will be, unfortunately onerous on businesses, to make sure they are compliant as it is likely the health orders will say in order to enter the premises you are required to be fully vaccinated. 

"We don't want businesses exposed to fines and other sanctions as a result of a lack of cooperation or poor behaviour from members of the community. 

"We hope the period that we have got from now until we do get to that date in October, that some of these things will be resolved. We do anticipate there will be staff shortages and shuffling of people through the workforce in order to get this right and be compliant.

It's expected the state will reach the 70 per cent double dose vaccinations by mid-October when restrictions will ease across the state. 

With the 70 per cent milestone, fully vaccinated people will be able to have visitors in their home, hospitality, retail, beauty and gyms will reopen, weddings and funerals with a limited number of guests can go ahead and domestic travel will resume. 

Upper Hunter walk-in vaccination blitz this weekend

BY JARROD MELMETH 

Residents across the Upper Hunter can get their COVID-19 vaccination with no appointment.

Three walk-in clinics will be running in Merriwa, Muswellbrook and Singleton this weekend.

• Friday, Merriwa School of Arts from 10:30am 
• Saturday, Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre from 10am - 4pm  
• Sunday, Singleton Civic Centre from 10am - 4pm

The clinics will be administering the Astra Zeneca vaccine only.

Vaccination rates in the Upper Hunter have been improving with 60.8 per cent of Singletons 18,000 population having received their first dose. In Muswellbrook 53.9 per cent of residents have had their first dose.

Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell says providing more opportunity for vaccination is crucial to getting out of lockdown.

"The community is coming together and realising the importance of vaccinations. I think there is a lot of people who just want to get vaccinated. They accept that it is what we need to do as a community to keep us all safe.

"Just having that opportunity to be able to walk in, no booking needed, because a lot of people get lost in the booking systems and people realise now having a vaccination is a lot better than having COVID." Mr Layzell said. 

Pictured: Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre which will be turned into a
vaccination hub on Saturday. Image: Muswellbook Shire Council.

No appointment needed: Pop up vaccination hub in Windale this Saturday

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Windale Community Medical Centre is hosting a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination hub this Saturday and next.

The clinic says the AstraZeneca vaccine will definitely be available, however a request for Pfizer has not been met.

Dr Melissa Collogan says setting up the vaccination hub is in response to the recent positive COVID case in the suburb as well as the low vaccination rates.

"The Windale community is a disadvantaged an a vulnerable community and we have many patients with chronic illness and socioeconomic disadvantage.

"If they were to contract COVID-19, their risk of  morbidity is high and so far we have found their ability to access a vaccination has proven to be difficult," Dr Collogan said.

The team at the centre are urging anyone in Windale and surrounding suburbs to head along and get the jab. The clinic will run from 9am and people are asked to bring along photo ID and their Medicare card.

Pictured: Windale Community Medical Centre
Image: Google Maps

Aged care staff vaccine mandate resulting in resignations at Newcastle nursing home

BY JARROD MELMETH

The boss of a Newcastle nursing home says the looming vaccination deadline for aged care workers is seeing staff resign in protest.

The federal government has made it mandatory for all aged care workers to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 17.

CEO of Maroba Aged Care at Waratah Viv Allanson has received a number of resignations and expects to get more as a result of the mandate.

She says she is concerned about the already existing staff-shortages being exacerbated by the resignations.

"There is an issue with getting staff. Remembering we have come through the scathing royal commission where people have seen that and think all aged care is like that which means people aren't rushing along to join in. Then we are in the midst of a pandemic which has also played out in aged care on television and they're thinking is that the career move I want to make?

"We are facing staffing difficulties right now across the board. Agencies don't have people available or there are very few on the ground and there is a big pool of people needing their services.

"We also know that because we are so risk-averse across the health sector anyone with a sniffle or any sort of a cold must immediately go home, get tested and wait for the test results to come back," Ms Allanson said.

In the past, the complexities with COVID and already existing staff-shortages has resulted in 95 shifts to fill in a single fortnight.

Image: Maroba

Another confirmed case of meningococcal disease in Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An adult is in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.

Hunter New England Health says there is no link between this case and any others. Close contacts of the patient have been prescribed clearance antibiotics as a precaution to prevent any further transmission of the disease.

The first signs of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, and drowsiness.

Public Health Physician Dr Craig Dalton is stressing that while the disease is life-threatening, in most cases early detection and treatment results in a full recovery.