BY JARROD MELMETH

Health authorities say they have set up a large scale operation to test and isolate residents of the Motto Farm Motel at Heatherbrae, after a positive COVID-19 case was detected.

Hunter New England Health says the woman who was counted in todays numbers was infectious for a period of time and active in the community. They’re also aware there was “a lot of mixing” and that other residents are now symptomatic.

The local health district are working closely with the managers of the motel and police. Residents of the motel have undergone testing on Friday morning and have been isolated.

Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim is calling for Port Stephens residents to come forward for testing due to a number of mystery cases.

“In the last few days we’ve seen a number of cases in the Port Stephens area who were active in the community while they were infectious.

“It’s critical that anybody in the Port Stephens LGA who has even the mildest of symptoms – a sore throat, a runny nose, a cough, shortness of breath, a fever, change in taste or smell – please consider that you may have had contact  with somebody with COVID-19,” Dr Durrheim said.