NSW recorded 681 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of these locally acquired cases, 170 are linked to a known case or cluster – 149 are household contacts and 21 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 511 cases is under investigation.
One hundred and thirty-five cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 28 were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Fifty-nine cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 459 cases remains under investigation.
Three new cases were acquired overseas and one new case was acquired interstate in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Twelve previously reported cases were excluded following further investigation and data reconciliation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 15,528.
Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the death of a person who had COVID-19.
A man in his 80s from south-east Sydney died at St George Hospital. NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to his loved ones.
This brings the number of COVID-related deaths to 61 since 16 June, and the number of lives lost to 117 since the beginning of the pandemic.
There have been 9,950 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.
There are currently 474 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 82 people in intensive care, 25 of whom require ventilation.
There were 119,310 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 102,749.
NSW Health administered a record 42,301 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 9,191 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 5,474,556, with 1,975,039 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 3,499,517 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Tuesday 17 August.
Of the 681 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 291 are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 172 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 74 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 63 are from Sydney LHD, 29 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 25 are from Western NSW LHD, 14 are from Northern Sydney LHD, five are from Hunter New England LHD, one is from Central Coast LHD, one is from Mid North Coast LHD, one is from Southern NSW LHD, and five cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
Due to ongoing concerns about community transmission, stay-at-home orders in place for regional NSW will be extended until at least 12.01am on 28 August, in line with existing orders for the Greater Sydney area.
Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.
NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Forster, Bateau Bay, Yamba and Mittagong sewage treatment plants in recent days.
The Forster sewage treatment plant serves around 12,000 people, the Bateau Bay sewage treatment plant serves around 39,000 people, the Yamba sewage treatment plant serves about 6,500 people and the Mittagong sewage treatment plant serves about 14,000 people.
These detections are of particular concern and everyone in these areas is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
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 450 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 17 August 2021 to 8pm 18 August 2021 **from 8pm 12 August 2021 to 8pm 18 August 2021
*notified from 8pm 17 August 2021 to 8pm 18 August 2021
Video of today's press conference will be uploaded to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - press conferences and video updates.