Well it was really only a matter of time ... yes, the toilet paper panic has reached the Bellingen Shire with supermarkets in Bellingen, Dorrigo and Urunga all reporting their shelves are empty of what everyone clearly thinks is a 'can't-do-without' item.
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Hand santizers have also been a popular item on local shopping lists, as well as bags of rice.
Supplies of flour, sugar and medical supplies are holding up for now with no apparent preparations for homemade bread or any increase in colds and fevers.
A question from the Courier Sun to the MNC Local Health District regarding preparations in the region yielded the following response from a NSW Health spokesperson:
NSW Health has been working on a daily basis with national colleagues, including expert modellers, to evaluate international data and assess a range of severity and transmission scenarios of the impact of COVID-19 in Australia.
This work is ongoing and builds on work done previous to plan for pandemic influenza. It will be used to inform NSW Health preparedness. As new information becomes available internationally, the models are adjusted.
NSW Health has capacity of more than 1,000 critical care beds, but cannot provide current availability as this fluctuates regularly based on demand.
All Local Health Districts have capacity to manage patients with suspected COVID-19. NSW Health has invested in intensive care facilities with high levels of infection control.
Laboratories at both Westmead and Randwick have developed specialist testing for COVID-19 that is available across the State.
Although there is not yet a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, flu vaccinations are still seen as important in the scheme of things as they could help reduce the number of cases of other types of flu, thus ensuring the public healthcare system's workload will be reduced when COVID-19 cases are expected to rise.
Stocks of the quadrivalent flu vaccine are expected in local pharmacies any day now. Bookings need to be made at your local pharmacy to have a vaccination. The cost is expected to be around $20.
For the latest information about how to keep yourself safe and prevent infecting others, go to NSW Health:
A National Coronavirus Health Information Line has also been set up - you can call 1800 020 080.
* Supermarkets are expecting fresh deliveries of toilet paper tomorrow (Wednesday).