Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) public health physician, Dr David Durrheim, says the pattern among COVID-19 cases in the region is very similar to what's happening in the rest of Australia.
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In line with trends around the country, two demographics have emerged as the leading carriers of COVID-19, with people in the 60-89 year age bracket accounting for around 46 per cent of diagnosed cases in HNELHD, while individuals in the 20-39 year age bracket account for approximately 29 per cent of cases.
Dr Durrheim said the older demographic was largely comprised of people who had been passengers on cruise ships, while the younger demographic was mostly represented by people who had returned from short or long-term overseas travel.
He said there had also been some incidences of local transmission among the younger demographic as a result of people attending social events before stricter government restrictions were introduced.
In Australia we're finding more cases among males.
- Dr David Durrheim
While no individuals in the 20-39 year age bracket had died from the coronavirus in Australia yet, Dr Durrheim said it was clear from overseas cases that young people were not immune to the effects of the virus and could die as a result of it.
HNELHD recorded the first death of one of its residents due to the coronavirus on Saturday, April 4, after a 76-year-old male who had been a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship died in Westmead Hospital.
In total, 245 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in HNELHD, with 10 people currently being cared for in hospital, including five in the intensive care unit.
However, 76 of the 245 people diagnosed with the virus have since recovered, bringing the current number of known cases down to 169.
Overall, more females in the region have been diagnosed than males, which stands somewhat at odds with the national trend.
"In Australia we're finding more cases among males," Dr Durrheim said.
"It might be because our numbers are still relatively small compared to the national average, but there seems to be more female travellers among the younger age group in the Hunter New England district."
In the Mid Coast local government area (LGA) specifically, there have been 37 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - the fifth largest number of cases of any LGA outside of Sydney.
Dr Durrheim said many of the people who had been diagnosed in the area had been cruise ship passengers, but he praised their conduct in following self-isolation rules and reducing the risk of the virus spreading through the community.
"They've been unbelievable," he said.
"They really are heroes in this whole area because they've taken one for the rest of us."
In spite of this, a screening blitz has been initiated in the Manning region after three cases were identified with an unknown source of infection.
"Now is the time for us to test, and test broadly, in Manning to see if there is genuine community transmission," Dr Durrheim said.
The Manning Hospital COVID-19 clinic is a drive-through service where people are screened via phone before presenting.
For screening, call 6592 9850 between 8am-4.30pm, seven days a week.
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