Western NSW Local Health District has confirmed there are no cases of Coronavirus in Parkes.
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The health district has quashed rumours circling Parkes that a number of people have presented to the Parkes Hospital with the COVID-19 virus.
This is not true.
Health authorities have also said there have been no new cases of Coronavirus detected in Western NSW.
Three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Orange on March 10 and since then no new cases have been detected in Western NSW.
A Western NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said while testing is being conducted in the region, none of these have come back with a positive result.
NSW Health has released a heat map of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW, which indicates the number of cases per local health district (LHD).
Western NSW remains in the 1-5 bracket.
At 11am on Tuesday an additional 39 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed within 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 210.
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Western NSW Health said the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the community from casual contact remains low.
But there are a few simple steps Parkes residents can do to help keep themselves and others safe that health authorities are urging people to follow:
- Keep your hands clean by washing them often with soap and water or using hand sanitiser.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose as the virus can enter your body if it's on your hands and you rub your eyes or touch your nose or mouth.
- Maintain social distance when you can, 1.5 metres between you and others is good.
- If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others.
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow rather than your hand or use disposable tissues.
- Keep your distance from those who are coughing and sneezing.
- Stay home if you are unwell and call, not visit, your own GP or call Healthdirect on 1 800 022 222 for advice.
There are Coronavirus (COVID-19) clinics open at Orange Hospital (8am to 4pm), Dubbo Hospital (10am to 6pm) and Bathurst Hospital (9am to 4:30pm).
These clinics are for people who have travelled overseas in the last 14 days and also have symptoms similar to a cold or flu, and have had close contact with a loved-one or other person who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
The Western NSW Local Health District said it has well established plans for handling respiratory infections, like COVID-19 and influenza.
"These plans are reviewed regularly and updated to reflect the latest advice and research," it said in a statement.
"Staff are trained in world's best practice for infection control and prevention which helps to keep our patients, visitors and staff safe."
There is also a one-stop website for information about COVID-19 for the community and health professionals at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
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