VERY REAL concerns are held for the regional town of Moree after a huge spike in case numbers were linked to large events which spread coronavirus "like wildfire".
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As Armidale recorded two new cases on Thursday, the region is bracing for the outbreak to worsen, with 33 new cases announced in the Moree area, nine new cases in Tamworth and seven in Inverell in the latest update.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced additional healthcare workers and support had been deployed to Moree as the situation unfolds.
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The numbers show a disturbing rise in cases in parts of the New England North West, Hunter New England Health (HNEH) public health physician Dr David Durrheim said.
"We have seen a rapid escalation of cases in Moree and Inverell," he said.
"These cases are linked to a number of what appear to be super-spreader events."
Dr Durrheim said people were exposed to the potentially deadly virus at a funeral, a wake, a number of social gatherings and a weekend celebration in Moree last week.
Large groups of people, including many from Aboriginal communities from across the region came together, and COVID-19 has now spread like "wildfire".
The double dose vaccination rates in Moree lag behind and have not yet hit the 80 per cent milestone.
Dr Durrheim warned unvaccinated residents that the perils of COVID-19 are coming very close to home, and now is the time to get a jab with the case count expected to balloon further.
Health authorities have urged people to distance, stay home and follow all health advice.
Anyone with even mild symptoms should get a COVID-19 test and isolate until a result is received.
Hundreds of residents in the New England North West have been forced into isolation as they await test results and after two "house parties" in Moree last Thursday and an event on Saturday were confirmed as close contact exposure sites.
A funeral in town last Thursday was announced as a casual contact site, as have two disability care services in Inverell.
Leaders - including mayor Katrina Humphries and local police - held an emergency meeting on Thursday.
Of the new Moree shire cases, 30 were in the town, one was in Mungindi and two were in Boggabilla.
It's marks a surge from two new coronavirus cases in the previous two days, which were the shire's first active infections, ever.
Uralla recorded a positive sewage detection though there are no known cases in the area.
HNEH confirmed 103 new cases across the district and the state clocked 308 new infections and four deaths in the latest update.
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Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
