NSW recorded 163 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of these locally acquired cases, 87 are linked to a known case or cluster – 62 are household contacts and 25 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 76 cases is under investigation.
Seventy-three cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 26 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Forty-five cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 19 cases remains under investigation.
One case was acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Four previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 7,462.
Sadly, a man in his 80s from south-west Sydney died at Liverpool hospital yesterday (Friday). NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to his loved ones.
This man’s death was announced yesterday and is included in today’s figures. This brings the total number of COVID-related deaths in NSW to 62, including six during the current outbreak.
There have been 1,940 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.
There are currently 139 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 37 people in intensive care, 17 of whom require ventilation.
A record 93,910 COVID-19 tests were reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 86,620. NSW Health thanks the community for continuing to come forward for testing in high numbers, which is vital to detecting cases early and preventing further spread of the virus.
NSW Health administered 25,312 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 8,095 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 3,369,252, with 1,309,786 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 2,059,466 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Thursday 22 July 2021.
Of the 163 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 67 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 45 are from Western Sydney LHD, 31 are from Sydney LHD, 14 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, four are from Northern Sydney LHD, one is from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD and one is from Central Coast LHD.
NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the sewage treatment plants at Warriewood on the Northern Beaches, and Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands. There are no known cases in either of these areas.
Warriewood sewage treatment plant serves about 62,700 people in suburbs including Narrabeen, Oxford Falls, Frenchs Forest, Warriewood, Mona Vale, North Narrabeen, Church Point, Clareville, Newport, Elanora Heights, Bayview, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, Terrey Hills, Belrose, Ingleside, Bilgola Plateau, Bilgola Beach, Avalon Beach, Palm Beach, Whale Beach and Pittwater.
Moss Vale sewage treatment plant serves about 9,000 people in the area.
Everyone in these areas is asked to be especially vigilant for any symptoms that could signal COVID-19, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received. If symptoms appear again, please be tested and isolate again.
Due to the emergence of further cases of community transmission in Sydney’s west and south-west, from 12.01am today, people living in the Cumberland and Blacktown Local Government Areas (LGAs) are only be allowed to leave their LGA for work if they are an authorised worker.
Authorised worker restrictions are already in place for Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGAs. This means the authorised worker restrictions will now apply to five LGAs.
Authorised workers from the Cumberland, Blacktown and Liverpool LGAs who work outside their local government area are not required to undertake surveillance testing.
Authorised workers from the Fairfield LGA who work outside this area must have a COVID-19 test once every three days in order to be allowed to go to work.
People who live in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA but work outside this area as an aged care or health worker must have a COVID-19 test once every three days in order to be allowed to go to work. This includes workers who provide ancillary or support services for aged care and health, such as cleaners, cooks and security providers.
NSW Health continues to urge everyone in these five LGAs, and throughout NSW, to get tested immediately if they have even the mildest of symptoms and isolate until they receive a negative result. High rates of testing are critical to detecting transmission and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community.
If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.
It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.
Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.
There are more than 410 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.
Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.
*notified from 8pm 22 July 2021 to 8pm 23 July 2021
**from 8pm 17 July 2021 to 8pm 23 July 2021
Press conference - Saturday 24 July 2021
