29 October 2020
NSW has reported four new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

One case was also reported in an overseas traveller in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,222.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) ​​​4,222​
​Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases)55​
​Total tests carried out3,029,253​​

There were 14,230 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 14,382 in the previous 24 hours.

Of the new cases to 8pm last night:

  • One was acquired overseas and is now in hotel quarantine.
  • One was locally acquired with their source still under investigation.
  • Three were locally acquired and linked to the above known case whose source is still under investigation.

The first locally acquired case is from south western Sydney, and the source of their infection is still under investigation. The other three contacts are household or close contacts of this case. One of these cases was first reported in a public health alert yesterday.

Two of these new cases were students who attend the Hoxton Park campus of the Malek Fahd Islamic School. The school will be cleaned and will be non-operational for 14 days. Contact tracing and investigations are underway.

NSW Health is treating 75 COVID-19 cases, with one patient in intensive care, who is being ventilated. Ninety-one per cent of cases being treated by NSW Health are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

COVID-19 virus fragments were identified in sewage at treatment plants in West Camden yesterday, prompting renewed calls for residents in this area to get tested. The virus fragments were detected through the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program.

Detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the areas served by these sewage treatment plants. However, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local communities in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are just a cold.

To fight the pandemic, anyone with even the slightest of symptoms must get a COVID-19 test the day they develop.

People need to be vigilant for any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms like a cold appear. After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received.

Symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, or fever could signal infection with COVID-19. Continued prompt testing is vital to ensuring NSW continues to detect cases as soon as possible and prevent onward transmission.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away – don’t delay.
  • Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
  • Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
  • Wear a mask when using public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in shops, places of worship and other places where you can’t physically distance. When taking taxis or rideshares, commuters should also sit in the back.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

​Likely source of infection​Cases past 24 hours*​​​Cases past 7 days**​All cases​
​Overseas1​36​2,272​
​Interstate0​0​90​
​Locally acquired – contact of a confirmed case and/or in a known cluster3​4​1,464​
​Locally acquired – source not identified​1​3​396​
​Total5​43​4,222​

Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.

*notified since 8pm on 27 October 2020 to 8pm 28 October 2020

**from 8pm 22 October 2020 to 8pm 28 October 2020

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

​​Since 29 March 2020
Count​
​Symptomatic travellers tested 6,202​
​Found positive 
143​​
​​Since 30 June 2020
Count​
​Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 239,760​
​Found positive 216​​

​​Since 15 May 2020
Count​
​Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1052,029​
​Found positive 134​​
​​​