The Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) has confirmed this morning that there is one case of COVID-19 in the Kempsey Shire.
An asymptomatic 14-year-old girl travelled from Newcastle back home to Kempsey on Friday, 13 August.
Contract tracers and Health officials are working directly with the family of the girl to carry out investigations and identified close contacts are already isolating.
The girl in question undertook a COVID-19 test on Sunday, 15 August and received notification she had tested positive late on Tuesday. Kempsey Shire Council, Mayor Liz Campbell and General Manager Craig Milburn, were briefed directly by MNCLHD on Wednesday.
Mayor Campbell said that she, the General Manager and the entire staff of Council send their best wishes to the patient and family concerned.
"While this is a very serious situation, and we send our support to the family, it is not any cause for panic. Council will continue to be guided by the experts within our Health system who are working hard to trace contacts and movements as fast as possible.
"The reality of Coronavirus reaching our community is however a stark reminder of why it is critical that we all follow the stay-at-home order currently in place across our state. There are very few reasons why people need to leave their homes. If as a community we all stick to the rules, we can give ourselves the best opportunity to minimise the impact."
