THE battle isn't over, health authorities have warned after the Hunter recorded just two new cases of COVID-19 and the threats posed by some known clusters begins to wane.
Investigations are continuing into the source of at least seven cases including "a mystery case" at Whitebridge which are 'being watched very closely". There are eight people being cared for in Hunter hospitals, including one in the Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Hospital.
A total of 184 cases have been identified since August 5 as the region nears the end of its second week of single digit case numbers. Across the state the last day of winter delivered some respite from rising pandemic daily case numbers, recording 1164 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, down from the 1290 fresh cases announced a day earlier.
However, cases numbers continue to climb in western NSW and that is already having an impact in the Hunter with one of the two new cases linked to Dubbo. As testing rates drop off, Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said now is not the time to become complacent. "With the start of spring, it is very likely that people will get some symptoms and what we are concerned about is that people immediately ascribe those to blossoms,," Dr Durrheim said.
"We shouldn't do that this year. Any tickle in the nose, scratchy throat, cough ... we really should be taking that seriously. A little bit of complacency has set in. The testing numbers have halved in the past week in Newcastle and in Lake Macquarie versus two weeks ago they have halved. We need to remain vigilant."
The weather was 'glorious' and while people were entitled to get outdoors and exercise, Dr Durrheim said it was important that people maintain social distancing and carry masks with them, particularly in popular places like walks along city beaches and lakeside.
Unmet demand for the Pfizer vaccine continues to frustrate individuals, patient advocates, health care professionals and politicians at all levels.
Hunter New England Health COVID-10 response lead Elizabeth Grist confirmed on Tuesday that Pfizer doses that were redistributed from the Belmont Hub to support vaccination of HSC students in Sydney had since been reinstated and anyone who had not rebooked their appointment was encouraged to do so.
Up to 1500 shots of Astra Zeneca were being offered each week with plenty of appointments available for this week and next, she said.
"We encourage members of the community to consider this option," Ms Grist said. "The Astra Zeneca vaccine is currently available to anyone 18 years and over, however informed consent needs to be provided. Astra Zeneca is very effective in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19."
People for whom AstraZeneca is not recommended, however, continue to be frustrated by the lack of supply. Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro said there was a global supply issue and Australia was waiting on allocations promised in September, October and November.
"It is difficult and I accept that it is disturbing and all I can advise people is to keep looking."
Mr Barilaro acknowledged that it was "painful' to have categories opened up, allowing younger people access to vaccinations without supply to meet the demand that created.
"These announcements happen well before supply and it causes a lot of pain and I apologise, we have very little control at a state level when we receive our vaccines," he said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard made the same concessions earlier, encouraging people who were eligible for Astra Zeneca to get vaccinated.
"The system here is working as well as it can be, Mr Hazzard said. "Don't be so selfish, or self-entitled as to think you are different to the rest of us, you are not. Go get vaccinated."
Asked how much more Pfizer was needed to meet the specific demand for that vaccine, Mr Hazzard answered: "A lot'.
So far, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI) has not issued advice on the need for additional or booster shots - beyond the two-doses of either vaccination. It was not currently recommended, Ms Grist said.
"Data on the real-world effectiveness and duration of protection from Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated, including against current and emerging variants, and will inform future recommendations regarding the need for and timing of booster doses."
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