17 SEPTEMBER 2021
ISSUE 310
Facebook ruling shuts down community discussion
News
With the announcement last week that the Central Coast will stay in lockdown for an unspecified time, the State and Federal Liberal Governments are playing the blame game. See page 5
Out&About
The High Court of Australia has made a landmark decision that will have a substantial impact on organisations that publish the news, including CCN.
Residents of Terrigal, Avoca and North Avoca should be on the lookout for six cyclists streaking past their homes on Sunday, September 26. See page 17
Health
See page 12
Local Delta cases soar State’s Chief Health Officer to brief MPs Central Coast MPs will attend a briefing on September 17 with Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and Central Coast Health CEO Brad Astill as COVID-19 case numbers soar in the region. To be hosted by Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, the briefing comes as the number of cases announced on the Coast during this outbreak reached 312 on September 16, with more than 200 of those still active. “The number of active COVID-19 cases on the Central Coast has nearly doubled in the
space of a week,” Crouch said. “The briefing with Dr Chant will discuss this growth in case numbers, the increase in vaccination rates, and what more can be done to control the Delta strain. In a letter to Labor MPs, Crouch said the region’s response to the pandemic should be managed in a bipartisan way. “All MPs have a responsibility to ensure COVID-19 information is shared and promoted in a timely non-political way,” he said. Announcement of the briefing came as Labor MPs ramped up calls for more support in the
region to stop the Coast becoming an area of concern. “In the last two weeks, four schools in my electorate have reported positive cases of COVID-19,” Member for The Entrance, David Mehan said. “This suggests to me that the virus is being picked up by workers who cannot work from home; there is little evidence of spread by outsiders. “A large number of the new cases are linked to known cases which says to me that not enough is being done to support those who have been exposed to the virus. “Inadequacy in the supply of the vaccine of people’s choice
is also a big factor, I think, in the spread of the virus locally.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) said Gosford Hospital is currently caring for a number of COVID patients, some of whom have been transferred from out of area as part of NSW Health’s networked hospital system. “This system ensures patients can be transferred or redirected to other hospitals where necessary, including private hospitals,” the spokesperson said. “Strict plans and protocols are in place for staff who care for patients with COVID-19,
including treating them in separate areas with separate staff where possible to minimise the risk of transmission, including in the ICU. “COVID preparedness modelling released by NSW Health has indicated that the demand on hospitals will be at its highest in October. “Hospitals and staff in NSW are among the best placed in the world to manage the ongoing challenges of this pandemic, but we acknowledge the Delta variant is placing a strain on the system. Continued page 8
The oncological clinical trial group Breast Cancer Trials will encourage food lovers all over the country to stay in this October and enter the 3 Course Challenge to support breast cancer research. See page 33
Sport
The official start of beach season for the Coast’s 15 Surf Life Saving Clubs was marked with the raising of the iconic red and yellow flags at Toowoon Bay this week with the season officially set to start on September 18. See page 39
Puzzles page 19
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