As at 8pm, Monday 23 March 2020, an additional 149 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed, since 8pm 22 March, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 818.
A female passenger in her 70s who was transported directly to hospital from the Ruby Princess which docked in Sydney on March 19, passed away in hospital this morning. This patient was one of the initial three passengers who were confirmed to be COVID-19 positive following testing of retained specimens from on-board the Ruby Princess.
NSW Health passes on our condolences to the family of this patient. 7 people have now died in NSW having tested positive to COVID-19.
There have been 107 cases diagnosed in NSW from the Ruby Princess and 26 cases interstate. It should be noted, no cases of COVID-19 had been identified by doctors on board before docking. Five people who had displayed influenza-like illness were tested in Wellington, New Zealand on 14 March, and all were negative for COVID-19.
There are currently 12 COVID-19 cases in our Intensive Care Units and of those cases, 8 require ventilators at this stage.
There are two cases of COVID-19 in teachers at Normanhurst West Public School in Thornleigh confirmed on 21 March and 23 March. Close contacts at the school have been identified and are being contacted placed in self-isolation. The school will remain closed today.
There are 13 cases in NSW linked to the Ovation of the Seas which docked in Sydney on March 18, and seven cases diagnosed in NSW who were on-board the cruise Voyager of the Seas which disembarked on 18 March.
There have been a further three positive cases at Dorothy Henderson Lodge, bringing to a total of 11 residents and five staff testing positive for COVID-19.
There has been one additional case from a University of Sydney rugby match on March 14. The second case resides in the ACT and ACT Health are conducting the interviews and contact tracing. The second case had been identified as a close contact of the first, and had been in self-isolation.
NSW Health is alerting passengers who were close contacts on flights to monitor for symptoms, and contact their GP, but call ahead first, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or visit a NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinic should they become unwell.
NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinics are up and running across the state however, we stress these clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, or people like our health workers. People without symptoms do not need to be tested.