coronavirus,

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region has risen to six. NSW Health is contacting people who have had close contact with all confirmed cases, who are in isolation. "Unless there is an ongoing risk to public health, information relating to individuals cases will not be released," Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Chief Executive Margot Mains said. "NSW Health will work to make contact with those most affected. " Ms Mains said the region's health facilities had well established plans for handling respiratory infections, like COVID-19 and influenza from past pandemics. Read more: "These plans are reviewed regularly and updated to reflect the latest advice and research," she said. "Planning for a likely increase in presentations of people with respiratory illness across the district was underway weeks before COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic." Ms Mains said the district had been working to maximise available critical care resources, including doubling the number of ICU beds if required. "This is supported by plans to manage COVID-19 positive or suspected positive patients in dedicated wards," she said. Ms Mains said the district has a process in place for addressing waiting list demand, and strategies were in place to maximise the amount of elective surgeries being provided across the region. "As has been forecast, a number of elective surgeries at hospitals will be reduced as health facilities increase capacity in other areas, and as patients postpone their surgery," she said. "ISLHD is working with our private hospital partners to minimise any impact on our patients as a result of our COVID-19 response, including transfer of elective surgeries." Dedicated COVID-19 Assessment Clinics have been established across the State for individuals most at risk from the virus - including a centre at Wollongong Hospital. Similar clinics at Shellharbour and Shoalhaven Hospitals will open shortly. "Only those who meet the criteria for testing should attend these clinic to ensure that we can test and identify those most at risk as a priority and minimise spread of COVID-19 ' Ms Mains said. To date 35,800 tests have been completed in NSW with 267 confirmed cases. Criteria for COVID-19 Testing Clinics: We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.

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