Seven new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,285. Of today’s new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine. The other two cases are the man who visited Casula’s Crossroads Hotel on 3 July and the traveller from Melbourne.
NSW Health is urging anyone who visited the Crossroads Hotel, Casula on the evening of Friday 3 July to immediately self-isolate, come forward for testing and monitor for symptoms. A pop-up clinic has been operational in the carpark of the hotel from 5pm last night and is opened today until 4pm.
Extended-hours testing is also available at Liverpool, Campbelltown and Fairfield Hospitals at these locations. Testing is also available through GP clinics.
We are at a critical point on the fight to contain the COVID-19. It is absolutely essential the community works together to limit the spread of the virus, by always maintaining good hand hygiene, adhering to physical distancing rules whenever possible and getting tested whenever symptoms occur, however mild.
One case being included in today’s total is the man from the Blue Mountains who visited Crossroads Hotel in Casula on the evening of Friday 3 July. The Hotel has been closed for deep cleaning and contacts are being traced. Three of this case’s household contacts late yesterday evening tested positive for COVID-19 and are also isolating. They will be included in the case numbers tomorrow.
This case follows the recent diagnosis of a woman from South Western Sydney, who had also been at the Crossroads Hotel. The only known link between these two cases is they both visited this Hotel on the same evening Friday 3 July.
The other case being included in today’s case total is a traveller from Victoria. The man drove from Melbourne and entered NSW on 7 July, and subsequently tested positive. He is in hotel quarantine and his three identified close contacts are in isolation. He has reported minimal contact with anyone in NSW apart from these close contacts.
It’s essential that we all take the risk of transmission very seriously and take steps to protect ourselves and loved ones: - If you have even mild symptoms, a cold or cough, get tested and stay home until you’re cleared. - Keep your distance from others at all times even if you are well. - If you have been in Victoria, don’t mix with other people until two weeks has passed.
People who work in high-risk settings such as health care facilities or aged care homes must not to attend work if they have symptoms and must get tested immediately. People should also not visit relatives in these settings if they have even the mildest of symptoms or have recently returned from Victoria.
Additional testing clinics have also been set up in border areas and traveller areas of high demand. Increase in demand for testing is specifically expected at Victorian traveller locations (i.e. Byron Bay, Ballina, Merimbula & NSW Ski fields), Victorian border locations (Albury) & Newcastle.
A total of 16,748 tests were notified in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 18,524 tests in the previous 24 hours. There are 76 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, with one in intensive care. This person does not require a ventilator. In NSW, 2,799 people are known to have recovered from COVID-19.
Anyone feeling unwell – even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat – is urged to seek testing and self-isolate. Do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19.
A full list of COVID-19 testing clinics is available or people can visit their GP. It is essential people follow directions they receive about home isolation and quarantine and maintain COVID-safe practices of physical distancing of 1.5 metres, cough or sneeze into their elbow, and regularly wash their hands.
Counts reported for a particular day may vary over time with ongoing enhanced surveillance activities.
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