Susanna Freymark
Remember the days when we gasped at the number of covid cases in our region.
As cases and deaths rose, covid numbers were reported daily.
I used to have a daily press conference on Zoom with the deputy premier and other regional journalists to find out how country NSW was coping with the pandemic.
There used to be lockdowns, mask wearing and a host of rules about dancing, and drinking standing up. How things have changed.
Today, we look at the numbers again to see how our region is faring. The numbers still matter for covid and flu because of the capacity of our hospitals and the staff that work there.
Across the state today, Wednesday, July 13, there were 2,023 hospitalisations for covid with 61 people in ICU. 15 people died from covid in the past 24 hours. Across the nation there were 57 covid deaths.
The cruise ship saga we saw at the beginning of the pandemic is being played out again with 100 crew infected on the Coral Princess docked at Sydney Harbour.
In the Northern Rivers today, there were 369 covid cases reported. In the past month there have been 2,014 covid cases.
Total cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic sit at 2,944,927 with total deaths of 3,751.
To complicate things, there are rising cases of flu.
Covid and flu symptoms can be very similar including fever, cough, runny nose, body aches, and fatigue. Both can cause serious illness – especially for older people and those with underlying health conditions, the Northern NSW Local Health District said.
If you have flu-like symptoms test yourself for covid.
If it is covid self isolate for seven days.
Also, if your test is positive, you must register your result through Service NSW.
If your test is negative, you should still self-isolate until your symptoms clear up.
Contact your GP if your symptoms get worse or do not clear up after a few days. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consider taking gentle pain relief for muscle aches and pains.
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