As New South Wales marks three million COVID-19 tests since January, the NSW Government is calling on the community to continue to work together to fight the deadly virus.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that while recent easing of restrictions is very welcome, it comes with risks and it is critical everyone keeps getting tested.

“This is a stealthy virus and if we give it an inch, it will take a mile and undo a lot of good work,” Brad said, “I thank the people of NSW for their efforts and sacrifices during the past nine months, which have put us in a position where we have been able to ease restrictions.”

The NSW Government aims to be able to continue to ease restrictions in the weeks and months ahead, but this depends on us being successful in minimising community transmission.

As of 8pm on 26 October 2020, 3,000,641 COVID-19 tests had been performed on 2,247,101 people in NSW. Of those people tested, 63.7 per cent had a single test and 36.3 per cent had more than one test. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was critical that people continue to come forward for testing and practice COVID-safe behaviours when out and about.

“When we have high numbers of people continuing to get tested, that allows us to detect cases in the community earlier and prevent onward transmission,” Kerry said.

“Get tested at the first sign of even the mildest of symptoms, wash your hands regularly, physically distance and wear a mask when using public transport and in places where you can’t physically distance.”

BreastScreen NSW is encouraging women aged 50 to 74 to make their health a priority by booking a free life-saving mammogram this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Meg O’Brien of BreastScreen NSW Western Region said: “This Breast Cancer Awareness Month we want women in Western NSW Local Health District to make booking a breast screen a priority.”

“BreastScreen NSW has implemented a range of hygiene and social-distancing measures to ensure clinics and mobile screening vans are COVID-19 safe, to protect women, staff and the wider community.”

Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow said early detection is key to giving women the best chance of survival and reduces the likelihood of needing invasive treatment, such as mastectomy or chemotherapy.

An appointment with BreastScreen NSW is free, takes about 20 minutes in total and no doctor’s referral is needed. In addition to 46 BreastScreen NSW clinics, Breast-Screen NSW has 16 mobile vans that provide services to about 180 locations across NSW, including in rural and remote areas.

If you are aged 50 to 74 book your free mammogram today with BreastScreen NSW online at www.book.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au or by calling 13 20 50.

It has been a most challenging year, with bushfires and a pandemic topping off years of extreme drought and financial hardship for many across Central Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).

WNSWLHD Director of Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol, Jason Crisp said, “Now more than ever it is extremely important to be talking and thinking about our mental health.”

“For the first time the WNSWLHD Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services team have developed a calendar full of activities to celebrate Mental Health Month, during the month of October, the calendar has been especially put together for both carers and consumers,” Jason said.

“This awareness month encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not.” Jason urges everyone to seek support early for their mental health and hopes that these programs are able to increase awareness about mental health and how to best obtain support.

Because of the current Public Health Orders, and government restrictions the activities will be offered through virtual services, including video conferences and teleconferences.

“Some of the events include hearing about the peer workforce, being a young carer, older people’s mental health, and yarning with aboriginal carers just to name a few.”

“We hope you enjoy what is on offer for the month, it is an excellent line up of educational opportunities with some great presenters who are experts in their fields and very interesting guest speakers.”

“I encourage everyone to join us and share with your family and friends,” Jason said.

Early to bed, early to rise, while the old saying promises health, wealth and wisdom, new research confirms part of the adage holds true, as a world first study shows that people who go to bed early are more likely to be in better health and more physically active compared to night owls.

Conducted by the University of Leicester and the University of South Australia, the study assessed the bedtime preferences of people with Type Two Diabetes, identifying a connection between bedtimes and healthy, active lifestyles.

It found that night owls have an excessively sedentary lifestyle, characterised by low levels and low intensities of physical activity which puts their health at greater risk.

Lead researcher, Dr Joseph Henson from the University of Leicester, says understanding how people’s sleep time preferences can impact their level of physical activity, could help people with Type Two Diabetes better manage their health.

“There is a massive need for large-scale interventions to help people with diabetes initiate, maintain and achieve the benefits of an active lifestyle,” Joseph says. “For people who prefer to go to bed later and get up later, this is even more important, with our research showing that night owls exercise 56% less than their early bird counterparts.”

The University of South Australia’s Dr Alex Rowlands says the study provides a unique insight into behaviours of people with Type Two Diabetes. “The links between later sleep times and physical activity is clear: go to bed late and you’re less likely to be active,” Alex says. “For someone with diabetes, this is valuable information that could help get them back on a path to good health.”

Share the Dignity, a charity helping women and girls access sanitary items, needs volunteers to help collect, count and distribute items for their upcoming ‘It’s In The Bag’ 2020 Christmas appeal.

2020 has been tough. Challenging circumstances are pushing women and girls fleeing from domestic violence and homelessness, at risk of period poverty, into a more terrifying world. Tough economic conditions and the coronavirus pandemic mean the charity needs to rally closer together to make the appeal a success.

Share the Dignity’s Founder, Rochelle Courtney says, “Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organisation. They volunteer their time to help women and girls dealing with period poverty in their local communities, and deliver products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups to local charities. Together, they are leaving a positive mark on the lives of women. Without them, we simply couldn’t reach as many women as we do.”

Go to https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/get-involved/volunteer for more information on how you can help.

As of Wednesday, 2 September, the Western NSW Local Health District remains at 47 confirmed cases since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A case of COVID-19 has been reported in the Parkes Local Government Area. Further testing and investigation is under way to verify the diagnosis of COVID and any possible source of the infection. The case is currently in isolation.

Right now, the message is very simple – if you have any symptoms, even mild ones, arrange to be tested.

Local Government Area	No. Cases
Bathurst Regional	9
Blayney Shire	3
Cabonne Shire	5
Dubbo Regional	6
Mid-Western Region	6
Narromine Shire	1
Orange City	13
Parkes Shire	2
Warren Shire	1
Warrumbungle Shire	1
Weddin Shire	1