COVID cases in our region increased slightly over the past fortnight. Over the past two weeks to 15 November 2021 there have been 531 locally acquired cases in the CESPHN region, a 6 per cent increase over the previous period. The largest concentrations are in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) Canterbury-Bankstown (164) and Sydney (78).
Click here for all the latest information relating to the NSW outbreak.
See here for information on the latest testing locations. Please remember to refer your patients to a GP respiratory clinic if they need a respiratory assessment. You can find contact details here.
Low risk COVID positive patients who have been double vaccinated can be safely managed in primary care using telehealth and following COVID care pathways. Our two CESPHN HealthPathways sites already have local pathways in place to provide guidance around this.
Within the region 87% of the population aged 15 and over have received one vaccine dose and 85% are fully vaccinated (a 1% increase from last week). 13% of the population remain unvaccinated.
General practices that need additional vaccine should contact our practice support team via coronavirus@cesphn.com.au and we can facilitate transfers.
Vaccinating practices who would like to order smaller doses of Pfizer vaccine are asked to contact the PHN. If you would like to deliver the Moderna vaccine please also contact coronavirus@cesphn.com.au.
We are strongly encouraging general practices and pharmacists to review their patients and identify those who are unvaccinated and arrange COVID-19 vaccination for them.
The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) have revised their guidance on how long a confirmed case of COVID-19 is required to self-isolate. Fully vaccinated cases who meet clinical criteria can NOW be released from isolation 10 days after their symptom onset date, or after their positive test if asymptomatic. This was previously 14 days.
Further information on changes to self-isolation periods for COVID-19 cases can be found in the following documents:
NSW Health has released a report showing fully vaccinated people were significantly less likely to become seriously ill or die and were better protected from acquiring COVID-19 during the Delta outbreak in NSW, a report from NCIRS and NSW Health has shown.
The findings are highlighted in the latest NSW Health in Focus report which shows that those who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 were 16 times more likely to die or end up in intensive care during our recent Delta outbreak. The report also makes it clear fully vaccinated people were significantly less likely to become infected with COVID-19.
You can find vaccination options via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker. Locations of LHD community vaccination clinics, no booking and no Medicare needed are below:
Bookings are also available at the following vaccination clinics:
Booster vaccinations for COVID-19 are available at the following times and locations for anyone over 18 who had their second dose at least six months ago.
| Day | Location | Time |
| Monday | Northcott Community Centre, Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 10.00 am – 2.00 pm |
| Tuesday | Poet’s Corner, Redfern | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm |
| Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm | |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 7.15 pm – 9.15 pm | |
| Wednesday | Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm | |
| Martin Place, Phillip St, Sydney | 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm | |
| Thursday | Namatjira Place (Community Room), Chifley | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm |
| Kooloora Community Centre, Bilga Crescent, Malabar | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm | |
| Friday | The Hub, Lexington Place, South Maroubra | 10.00 am – 2.00 pm |
| Saturday | Poet’s Corner, Redfern | 9.00 am – 11.00 am |
| Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 11.30 am – 1.00 pm | |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm | |
| Monday-Friday | The Kirketon Road Centre, above Darlinghurst Fire Station, entrance on Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010 | 9.30 am – 5.00 pm (Wednesday 12.00 pm – 5.00 pm) |
COVID-19 webinars and podcasts
| Title | Date and time | Registration link |
| COVID-Vaccine rollout: Supporting diverse communities and vaccines for children. | Thursday 25 November 2021, 7.00–8.00 pm | Click here |
| COVID-19 vaccination update in NSW | Tuesday 30 November 2021, 7.30–8.30 pm | Click here |
| Vaccine hesitancy and practice efficiencies | Thursday 2 December 2021, 7.00–8.00 pm | Click here |
We are aware that some people in our community may not be able to access a GP or vaccination hub to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. As a result CESPHN has developed the Vax at Home program.
The CESPHN Vax at Home Program is ONLY for those people who are housebound and not able to leave their house to receive a COViD-19 vaccination (their carers will also be able to be vaccinated).
Patient self-referrals will NOT be accepted. Patients should speak with their GP for referral to this program if appropriate. Referrals can be accepted from General Practitioners and Disability Provider Organisations only. Referrals for people who live in the Sydney Local Health District can be emailed to SLHD-AHCCR-InreachClinic@health.nsw.gov.au and for South Eastern Sydney Local Health District please email vaxinhomesesydney@gmail.com
Referrals should include:
This service is now operational and accepting referrals.
CESPHN is pleased to offer general practices, community pharmacies and allied health the opportunity to have a specialised one-on-one consultation session with an experienced primary care infection control educator. This consult will enable your practice/pharmacy to:
Sessions will be via ‘Zoom’ and will be up to 50 minutes in duration and can be recorded for later use. The aim of these sessions is to support practices and community pharmacies to ensure they have the strongest infection procedures in place and provide tips for improvement where needed. If you would like more information or would like to book a consultation, please email your interest to coronavirus@cesphn.com.au and in the subject line write: “Yes I would like infection control advice”.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) packages including surgical and N95/P2 masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and goggles and face shields will be made available for community pharmacies and those GPs who continue to see their patients within their practices. PPE guidelines can be found here. CESPHN will continue to distribute these supplies. To order PPE for your practice or pharmacy click here.
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