Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,726.
There were 20,104 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 13,257 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 18 new cases reported to 8.00pm last night:
NSW residents returning from Victoria will have their hotel quarantine fee waived for the next month to ease the financial burden on returnees.
The charge will be waived retrospectively and apply to NSW residents already in hotel quarantine after travelling from Victoria.
A second health care worker at Hornsby Hospital has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but did not work while infectious.
Close and casual contacts have been instructed to isolate, monitor and test for COVID-19 should any symptoms present.
Staff who had contact with the first positive case have been self-isolating for 14 days and tested for COVID-19. There is no impact on the services being provided at the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Hornsby Hospital has a clinic available for people who require testing for COVID-19. For anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and get tested.
A third confirmed COVID-19 case has been identified at Our Lady of Mercy College. Because this new case is not directly linked to the previous two cases, the source of the infection is unknown
Due to the concern about the virus spreading within the school, NSW Health and the school agreed to close the high school for 14 days to allow for contact tracing and to reduce the risk of the virus spreading at the school.
Students and staff have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days, monitor their health and get tested for COVID-19. Students and staff will return to onsite learning on Monday 24 August.
Parramatta Public School will not be open for on-site learning today after a student tested positive to COVID-19. The school is working closely with NSW Health to identify and notify close contacts. Students will continue to be supported through existing learning from home arrangements while the school is thoroughly cleaned.
It was confirmed yesterday that two people who were infectious with COVID-19 attended the Wildginger restaurant in Huskisson on Saturday, 8 August 2020 from 7.45pm to 10.30pm. Patrons and staff who were at the venue during this time must self-isolate for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.
Anyone who attended the following venues during the dates and times below are advised to monitor for symptoms, and if symptoms present, however mild, isolate and get tested:
Of the known clusters, there are now:
There are currently 133 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health. There are eight COVID 19 patients in intensive care and seven are ventilated. 87 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:
See a full list of COVID-19 testing clinics, 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.
