The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is appealing to people to only go to Emergency Departments if there is an emergency.

The ISLHD's Chief Executive Margot Mains says, as expected with widespread community transmission and high case numbers, the District was seeing many staff temporarily away from work.

“The LHD is working around the clock to ensure that all available staff are deployed to areas of highest demand.

“To help us better manage their workload, we ask the community to please only use the emergency department for an emergency. We are seeing people coming to Emergency requesting Rapid Antigen Tests. These are not available to the public via ED.”

Timely access to PCR test results remains a challenge across NSW. The ISLHD reminds the community that the only people getting a PCR (nose and throat swab) should be those who:

• have COVID-19 symptoms
• live in a household with a confirmed COVID-19 positive case
• have been in a venue which NSW Health has advised there has been high transmission.

As of last night, the number of hospitalisations remained steady with 23 patients currently in hospital across the District. Most are receiving care within the allocated COVID wards at both Wollongong and Shoalhaven Hospitals, with one person in Intensive Care.

UPDATE: As of 8pm Tuesday night, there were 1,496 new COVID-19 cases recorded for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, with 837 cases from Wollongong LGA, 327 cases from Shellharbour LGA, 254 cases from Shoalhaven LGA and 78 cases from Kiama LGA. (The latest figures are available here on their website.)

The ISLHD says strategies are in place for the safe transition of COVID positive patients into Emergency Departments, with Wollongong Hospital recently adding a clinical area outside its emergency department to further help manage presentations.

The ISLHD will adapt its response to the pandemic in line with case numbers as they rise and fall.

“I want to assure the community that every available resource within our LHD is currently being utilised in this latest response,” says Ms Mains.

“Our staff will continue to do their very best for our patients but we ask the community to please work with us at this challenging time – listen to health messaging and please continue to be patient.

“Staff are facing challenges never seen before because this is a one in 100 year pandemic and there is no rule book.

“On behalf of our all our health workers, I want to again thank the community for its ongoing support.”