Welcome to the latest COVID-19 Bulletin, containing helpful information and resources on current COVID-19 topics, as well as practical ideas for childcare services, schools and families to keep everyone healthy and active during this time. Become a COVID-19 Bulletin subscriber here.

LATEST NEWS

Cumberland, Parramatta and Blacktown Local Government Areas (LGAs) are all LGAs of concern.

This means if you live in these LGAs:

• You cannot work outside your LGA unless you are an authorised worker and the business you work for is allowed to be open. Read more here.

• You must wear a mask outside of your home at all times.

• From Friday 30 July, you can only move within 5 km of your home. Read more here. Post for sharing here.

From Saturday 31 July, people who live in Cumberland LGA but work outside as health or aged care workers (including support services such as cleaners, cooks and security providers) must be tested every 3 days to be

allowed to go to work. You do not have to get tested in the Cumberland LGA.

If you work outside of this area, you can get tested near your place of work. You can go to work while you are waiting for your test result, unless you have symptoms.

Key messages this week:

• If you have symptoms, get tested especially if you live in Cumberland, Parramatta or Blacktown Local Government Areas. Clinics here.

• Don’t leave home unless you have to. Don’t have visitors to your home.

• Get vaccinated. Book here.

Stay at home orders extended until Saturday 28 August. • The stay-at-home order applies to all of Greater Sydney, including the Blue

Mountains, Shellharbour, Central Coast and Wollongong local government areas.

• Learning will remain online until Saturday 28 August, except for year 12. Year 12 will return to face to face learning Monday 16 August.

Read more here. Post for sharing.here. Changes to restrictions:

• For areas other than LGAs of concern, for shopping (one household member) can shop in your Local Government Area or 10km from your home. You can only exercise (with 1 person that you do not live with OR only with your household members) in your Local Government Area or within 10km from home.

• In the 8 LGAs of concern (Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Fairfield, Canterbury- Bankstown, Liverpool, Georges River and Campbelltown), this is limited to within 5km from home.

NSW restrictions

Issue 40 Amendment: 30 July 2021

• Construction in non-occupied settings (with no residents on-site)

outside of the 8 LGAs of concern will re-open, subject to a one person per 4sqm rule. These low-risk construction sites must have COVID safe plans in place, compliance will be strictly enforced. Construction cannot resume in the 8 LGAs of concern; construction workers cannot leave these areas.

• Trades people, including cleaners who are able to work with zero

contact with residents will also be allowed to resume (no more than two people inside and five outside). If contactless arrangements are not possible, work cannot go ahead. This work will not be allowed in the 8 LGAs of concern, nor will workers be allowed to leave these areas.

• People living alone can nominate 1 person only to visit for

companionship. If you live in one of the 8 LGAs of concern this person must live within 5km of your home.

• Masks are mandatory outside of your home in the 8 LGAs of concern. Read more here. Videos on how to wear a mask available here.

All other restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour remain in place. Check the following webpages for more information on current restrictions and rules: • Additional restrictions for NSW • COVID-19 tests for Greater Sydney workers • Authorised workers • Face mask rules • Common questions about the rules • Legislation and penalties

Please check here daily for local exposure site details and Greater Sydney updates as information is changing rapidly. New exposure sites are regularly posted on Western Sydney Health Facebook and Instagram, and shareable with your networks.

New and updated close contact case locations in these Western Sydney suburbs:

• Auburn

• Beaumont Hills

• Chester Hill

• Granville

• Kellyville

• Merrylands

• North Parramatta

• Parramatta

• Pendle Hill

• Seven Hills

• Smithfield

New and updated public transport routes in Western Sydney:

• Blacktown

• Parramatta

• Seven Hills

• Toongabbie

Please check here for details. If you are a close contact, immediately get tested and self-isolate away from others you live with for 14 days, regardless of the result. Call 1800 943 553 unless you have already been contacted by NSW Health.

New and updated casual contact case locations in these Western Sydney suburbs:

• Auburn

• Berala

• Bella Vista

• Blacktown

• Castle Hill

• Chester Hill

• Eastern Creek

• Emerton

• Granville

• Greystanes

• Greenacre

• Guildford

• Harris Park

• Homebush West

• Kellyville

• Lalor Park

• Lidcombe

• Marsden Park

• Merrylands

• Minchinbury

• Mt Druitt

• Old Toongabbie

• Parramatta

• Pemulwuy

• Pendle Hill

• Plumpton

• Prospect

• Rooty Hill

• Seven Hills

• Silverwater

• Smithfield

• St Marys

• Sydney Olympic Park

• The Ponds

• Toongabbie

• Tregear

• Wentworth Point

• Wentworthville

• West Pennant Hills

• Westmead

• Winston Hills

COVID-19 case alerts: new exposure sites in western Sydney

A close contact is someone who

has been close to a person with

infectious COVID-19 and might

have become infected with the

COVID-19 virus.

New and updated public transport routes in Western Sydney:

Please check here for details. If you are a casual contact, get tested immediately and self-isolate until you get a negative result

New and updated monitor for symptoms case locations in these Western Sydney suburbs:

• Homebush Please check here for details. If symptoms occur, get tested immediately and self-isolate until you get a negative result.

COVID-19 virus fragments were identified in sewage samples taken from the following pumping stations which service Western Sydney:

• West Lindfield (21 July) – includes parts of Parramatta Local Government Area These detections means COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. Information is regularly updated here.

Cases in Cumberland, Parramatta and Blacktown Local Government Areas are increasing. High transmission is occurring in households, healthcare settings and workplaces especially warehousing and logistics.

Who needs to get tested?

You must get tested if you: • Have symptoms, even if they are mild. Do not go to work. • Are a close or casual contact • Are an authorised worker from Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, or a health or aged care worker (including support services for health or aged care, such as cleaners, cooks and security providers) from Fairfield and Cumberland LGAs every 3 days. Do not go to work if you are sick. • Are an essential worker working outside of Greater Sydney, every 7 days.

Testing every 3 days is not currently required for authorised workers from Parramatta and Blacktown LGAs or other authorised workers from Cumberland LGA.

• Auburn

• Lidcombe

• Parramatta

• Pendle Hill

• Seven Hills

• Toongabbie

• Westmead

• Wentworthville

• Yennora

If you have mild cold-like symptoms:

• Do not go to a pharmacy or doctor (GP). If you need medical attention, call your doctor (GP) first to ensure you get medical attention safely.

• Get tested immediately and self-isolate until you get a negative result.

• You can find your nearest COVID-19 testing clinic here

• Call triple zero (000) in an emergency.

COVID-19 sewage testing detection sites

COVID-19 testing

A casual contact is someone

who has been near a person

with infectious COVID-19 but

who is at lower risk of getting

COVID-19 than a close contact.

Where to get tested? There are 41 testing clinics across Western Sydney Local Health District. Blacktown Local Government Area has 17 testing clinics:

Check here for details Cumberland Local Government Area has 13 testing clinics: • 3 in Auburn • 2 in Granville • 1 in Guildford

• 1 in Lidcombe • 3 in Merrylands • 2 in Smithfield

• 1 in Wentworthville

Check here for details Parramatta Local Government Area has 7 testing clinics:

• 1 in Carlingford

• 1 in Dundas

• 3 in Parramatta

• 2 in Westmead

Check here for details It is important to get tested to protect yourself and your family. Testing is free. No booking or GP referral required. No medicare required. Read more here. Find your nearest clinics here. Just got tested? Information here.

COVID-19 vaccination is free, safe and is available to all adults.

• All adults are strongly recommended to get vaccinated with any available COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.Two doses of either vaccine gives you around 90% protection against hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 AND reduces spread of COVID-19 to people around you by about 90%. Please support your family to get vaccinated.

• Check your eligibility and book here to attend a NSW Health hub or participating pharmacy. You can also call your GP (doctor) for an appointment.

• The eligibility checker and online booking are now available in 15 languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Bengali, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese

• 6 in Blacktown • 1 in Bella Vista • 1 in Emerton • 1 in Marsden Park

• 1 in Minchinbury • 2 in Mt Druitt • 1 in Parklea • 1 in Quakers Hill

• 1 in Rouse Hill • 1 in Seven Hills • 1 in Vineyard

COVID-19 vaccine updates

• If you are 40+: o Appointments for AstraZeneca available at Blacktown

Hospital 7 days a week. Book here. o Walk-in clinics are available in the Cumberland Local

Government Area. Read more here.

• If you are 18-39: you can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from GPs (doctor), NSW Health Hubs and participating pharmacies. Book here to attend a NSW Health hub or participating pharmacy.

• Pop-up clinics are also being provided in Western Sydney where possible. Highlights here.

• Year 12 students in the 8 LGAs of concern (Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Fairfield, Canterbury- Bankstown, Liverpool, Georges River and Campbelltown) will be offered vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine. All adults, including teachers are now eligible for vaccination. Book here.

More COVID-19 vaccination information and latest updates

• Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination in NSW here.

• Stay up to date with the latest national vaccine news here. Information available in 63 languages.

For businesses: Job saver payments have been increased and eligibility criteria have changed, media release here. Support is available from Service NSW. Read more here. Some early childhood education and care services may be eligible for Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances Grant. For landlords and renters: Support announced 14 July. Read more here. For individuals and households support is available from Services Australia:

• COVID-19 Disaster Payment: o Increases to disaster payments have been announced. Only one

application will be needed and those receiving other government payments will be eligible for a top up. Updated information expected here shortly.

o Information session run by Services Australia available Friday 30 July, 3 – 4pm. Join the session by clicking here or call in (audio only) +61 2 9158 7141,246553079# Phone Conference ID: 246 553 079#

o The COVID-19 Disaster Payment fact sheet is now available in 56 languages, and can be located via Information in your language by product under the title COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

Financial help

• Families affected by COVID-19 may be eligible to receive additional support with the cost of child care through the Additional Child Care Subsidy (temporary financial hardship). Families must apply directly to Centrelink.

• Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment - If you can't go to work because you have been directed to self-isolate by NSW Health or you need to care for someone who has COVID-19, you may be eligible for the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment of $1,500 for each 14 day period.

• Domestic and Family Violence Immediate Needs Support Package: Up to $5,000 for urgent relocation, security or medical expenses. Read more here.

• Information on financial and legal support can also be found at COVID-19 Community Resources for Western Sydney. More information about financial support for individuals here.

In language COVID-19 print and web resources are available here. You can search resources by language here. Each language has it’s own page e.g. Arabic resources are here, Somali resource are here and Tamil resources are here.

• New social tiles: Read COVID-19 information in language in Assyrian, Dari and Macedonian.

• New daily 11am COVID-19 press conference in Arabic and Vietnamese on SBS Facebook pages Arabic and Vietnamese

Taking care of your physical and mental health is more important than ever during the pandemic. Spending more time at home may mean we are not moving as much and changes to usual routines can also impact the way we feel. Here are some simple ideas to boost your mood during this time:

1. Phone a family member or a friend to say hello and check in. 2. Sleep is vital to good mental health. Try and keep regular

bedtimes and take some time to wind down at the end of the day. 3. Get moving – sometimes the hardest part is to get started. Try and

set yourself a small goal to begin, maybe 10 minutes of light activity such as a walk, each day and build it up from there

4. Take some quiet time for yourself if you can. Do something you enjoy. It’s important to rest and recharge too.

More ideas to stay healthy at home here. If you need someone to talk to during this time, reach out to your local mental health support services, some are listed here: https://tinyurl.com/mentallyhealthy-WSLHD

Resources

Healthy@Home

Walking is great way to stay active. Before stepping out on a walk around the block again, you might like to try this simple idea to help to keep your next walk interesting. 1. Help your child to write out each letter of the alphabet on a piece of paper. 2. During your walk, can you see something that starts with each letter of the

alphabet? Tick off the letters each time you find something. 3. For a screen free activity: later that day sit down and try to remember what you

saw that matched each letter. Children might like to draw what they remember. 4. If you forgot something or didn’t find all the letters first go, take your list out

again on your next walk!

It can help to take some time out and focus your mind on a

simple task, to help to relax. Colouring can be a calming

activity for both adults and children. This quiet activity is

also an alternative to screen time for young and old alike.

For colouring-in templates and more fun screen-free ideas

visit https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19-

Wellbeing/Families/families#fun

Remember it is not about what you or your child’s colouring-in looks like, it is about the process. Enjoy & have fun!

Rainbow Rosti

Ingredients:

2 small potatoes (grated), 1 small sweet potato (grated), 1 zucchini (grated)

½ cup grated pumpkin, 2 shallots or ½ brown onion (diced), 1 egg, ¼ cup flour

Method: 1. Squeeze out excess moisture from grated vegies- use paper towel or chux 2. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined. 3. Cook in a non-stick frypan until brown on both sides. 4. Serve warm or cool. These freeze well.

To keep the family fuelled while working or schooling from home see more

recipe ideas https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19-Wellbeing/Families/families#tips

Thank you to those who have provided us with valuable feedback. We appreciate any feedback or suggestions you have on our ‘Keeping families and children safe – COVID-19’ bulletin. Please click here to complete our short bulletin survey. Thank you.

Alphabet Suburb Scavenger Hunt

Calming with colouring

Healthy snack idea

Please provide feedback on our bulletin

Websites:

• Check latest announcements and NSW Health COVID-19 information

• Check Australian Government COVID-19 information

• Follow NSW Health on Facebook and Twitter

• Visit www.healthdirect.gov.au to check symptoms

• Visit http://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 for all other COVID-19 related information

• Visit COVID-19 Community Resources website. Subscribe here.

Who to call:

• Call National Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 020 080 (24/7) for health questions or to check symptoms

• Call Service NSW on 13 77 88 (24/7) for non-health related questions

• Call Beyond Blue on 1800 512 348 (24/7) for mental wellbeing support

• Call Translating & Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 for FREE help in your language

• Call COVID-19 Let’s Talk on 8890 5236 to talk about stress and lifestyle changes during COVID-19

Resources:

• Coronavirus Australia app

Information is current at date of issue – 30 July 2021.

COVID-19: Need more information or help?