The shire is preparing for COVID-19 case numbers to climb, as the tally hits 15 in Batemans Bay and one in Narooma.
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That's a total of 16 active cases in our shire, which is double the figures of last year's outbreak in July.
In 2020, eight people tested positive to the virus after a cluster was connected to the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club.
During that time, the Narooma community was on high alert after a district bowls member attended a meeting at Club Narooma and later tested positive to COVID. The 2020 cluster was quickly contained.
However, this time around, health authorities were predicting the shire's cases to climb, with potential unknown cases in the community. NSW Health has not yet listed any exposure sites of the current Narooma case. For the most recent list of exposure sites north of the shire, CLICK HERE.
If venues are found through contact tracing, these will be announced by NSW Health as soon as they are known. Anyone who checked in to a venue of concern at times listed, using the Service NSW app, will be notified by SMS from NSW Health.
The community was urged to keep practising COVID-safe measures, get vaccinated and get tested, even with the mildest COVID-19 symptoms.
The virus fragments were detected in Narooma's sewage on September 15, before any actual cases emerged.
It was Saturday, September 18, when NSW Health confirmed the positive case in Narooma.
In response to the shire's outbreak, the Eurobodalla Shire Council has extended the NSW Sewage Surveillance Program to plants at Tomakin, Tuross Head, and Bodalla.
"We're cooperating with NSW Health to extend sewerage detection beyond Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma to include all the shire's treatment plants at Tomakin, Tuross and Bodalla," council's general manager Dr Catherine Dale said.
The council also pledged its support of local health district with transport, storage, and more if needed.
"From Monday, our Community Services team will relieve clinical staff of the task of transporting essential care packages, including food and prescriptions, to COVID-impacted households," Dr Dale said.
"I encourage Eurobodalla citizens to follow the health orders and get vaccinated if they can. Let's contain these cases so we can begin to enjoy our freedoms once more and see the shire's businesses open up."
The shire's 16 cases were all linked to the Batemans Bay cluster, where the first case was reported on September 6.
The shire's first-dose vaccination rate has hit more than 85 percent, among the highest in the state.
The Narooma Medical Centre will set up a walk-in Pfizer vaccination clinic at Bodalla Oval this Sunday, September 26.
The clinic will operate from 10am-2pm. The community is urged to register their interest by sending a message to the Narooma Medical Centre's Facebook page or call reception staff on 4476 5588.
To find your nearest testing clinic, visit the NSW Health website.
