Twenty-two new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,708.
There were 13,257 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 19,920 in the previous 24 hours. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, maintaining high rates of testing is vital at this time, and NSW Health urges anyone with even the mildest symptoms to come forward for testing.
Of the 22 new cases reported to 8.00pm last night:
Eight cases reported to 8pm last night are linked with Tangara School for Girls. These cases include five students, a staff member and two social contacts of confirmed cases. In total, 17 cases (including 11 students) are now associated with the school. The original source of this cluster remains under investigation.
The school’s secondary campus will close until Monday, 24 August. The junior campus will close until Tuesday, 11 August but will re-open on Wednesday, 12 August for those students whose parents need to send their children to school.
All students, staff and support staff of the secondary school must self-isolate for 14 days and get tested, regardless of symptoms. Students of the primary school must monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop, even when they are mild.
Two of today’s cases are contacts of a previously reported case from the Batemans Bay Soldiers’ Club. This brings the number of cases associated with the Soldiers’ Club to 10. One of the two cases is a student at Batemans Bay High School. The other attends Batemans Bay public school. The schools are closed today for cleaning, and contact tracing is under way.
A student from Our Lady of Mercy College at Parramatta – mentioned in yesterday’s media release – is included in today’s numbers. The school was closed for cleaning on Monday, and contact tracing is underway. Two students, who were close contacts at the school have now tested positive.
One case reported today is associated with the Thai Rock Wetherill Park restaurant cluster. This brings the total number of cases associated with that cluster to 112.
Three of today’s cases are close contacts of a previously reported case. Another case is a household contact of the case acquired in Melbourne.
For a list of locations associated with known cases and advice on testing and isolation, see NSW Government - Latest new and updates.
Of the known clusters, there are now:
There are currently 117 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health. There are eight COVID 19 patients in intensive care and six are ventilated. 85 per cent of cases being treated by NSW Health are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19:
Isolation is mandatory for anyone identified as a close contact (not a casual contact) of a case. Anyone directed to undertake a 14-day self-isolation period must stay in isolation for the full time, even if they test negative. Early testing may not detect an infection, and release from self-isolation based on a negative test could allow an infectious person to infect others in the community. Most people who are infected and develop symptoms will do so within 14 days of exposure.
See a full list of COVID-19 testing clinics is available at the following link, or people can visit their GP:
Some cases in recent days have been acquired in Victoria. People who have arrived from Victoria must isolate for 14 days, unless special exemptions apply. Everyone should get tested immediately should symptoms occur. Anyone directed to undertake a 14-day self-isolation period must stay in isolation for the full time, even if they test negative. Early testing may not detect an infection, and release from self-isolation based on a negative test could allow an infectious person to infect others in the community. Most people who are infected and develop symptoms will do so within 14 days of exposure.
Counts reported for a particular day may vary over time with ongoing enhanced surveillance activities.
Watch the video update.