NSW recorded 283 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
No new cases were acquired overseas, and four cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 72,013.
Sadly NSW Health is reporting the deaths of seven people – five men and two women.
One person was in their 40s, one person was in their 50s, two people were in their 70s, and three people were in their 90s.
Two people were from the Wollongong area, two people were from Sydney’s inner city, one person was from south western Sydney, one person was from the Maitland area and one person was from the Albury area.
Four people were not vaccinated, one person had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and two people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Two men in their 90s died at the Tarrawana aged care facility, north of Wollongong, where they acquired their infections. They both had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A man in his 90s died at Mercy Place aged care facility in Albury where he acquired his infection. He was not vaccinated. This is the first death linked to an outbreak at this facility.
A man in his 50s from Sydney’s inner city died at home. He tested positive to COVID-19 following his death. He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A man in his 40s from the Maitland area died at Maitland Hospital. He was not vaccinated.
NSW Health extends its sincere condolences to their loved ones.
There have been 486 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021 and 542 in total since the start of the pandemic.
There have been 66,330 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.
There are currently 552 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 124 people in intensive care, 66 of whom require ventilation.
There were 88,664 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 90,597.
To 11.59pm on Monday 18 October 2021 across NSW, 92.3 per cent of people aged 16 and over had received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 81.6 per cent were fully vaccinated.
In the 12-15 year old age group, 75.5 per cent have had their first dose, and 38.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 11,751,667, with 3,942,283 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 7,809,384 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11:59pm on Monday 18 October 2021.
Of the 283 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 62 are from Hunter New England Local Health District (LHD), 60 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 43 are from Western Sydney LHD, 24 are from Sydney LHD, 17 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 17 are from Murrumbidgee LHD, 13 are from Central Coast LHD, 13 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 12 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, six are from Northern Sydney LHD, five are from Western NSW LHD, four are from Mid North Coast LHD, three are from Southern NSW LHD, two are from Northern NSW LHD, one is from Far West LHD and one is yet to be assigned to an LHD.
NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage samples collected from across NSW, including areas with no known cases, such as Wagga Wagga (Kooringal catchment), Woolgoolga and Jerilderie.
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 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 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 18 October 2021 to 8pm 19 October 2021 **from 8pm 13 October 2021 to 8pm 19 October 2021
*notified from 8pm 18 October 2021 to 8pm 19 October 2021
*to 11.59pm 18 October 2021
Video of today's update