19 July 2020

Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8.00pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,379.

As cases resulting from community transmission continue to be reported, NSW Health is calling on people across the state to redouble their efforts to stop the virus spreading.

People are urged to avoid non-essential travel and gatherings. Of particular concern is transmission in venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings. We are calling on people across the state to take extra care and follow these steps:

  • Don’t leave home at all if you have any symptoms, except to get tested.
  • At all times stay 1.5 m from other people.
  • Don’t go anywhere there is crowding.
  • Get tested, even if you have the mildest of symptoms.
  • Clean your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds or use alcohol base hand rub.
  • Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
  • Don’t host, or go to, a gathering of more than 10 people at home.
  • Don’t go to the gym unless the equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after customer use by supervising staff or yourself, and there is good spacing between machines and customers.
  • All venues must have a COVID Safe plan, and ensure physical distancing between customers and staff, good hand hygiene, and check that no staff come to work with symptoms.
  • Consider using masks in situations where you are unable to social distance.

It is critical that anyone feeling unwell – even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat – seeks testing and self-isolates until they get the result. Stay at home, and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19.

NSW has more COVID-19 testing sites than any other State or Territory. All South Western Sydney clinics are open and will continue to operate while there is demand/need. A full list of COVID-19 testing clinics is available or people can visit their GP.

Confirmed cases to date

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (incl. interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 3,379
Deaths (in NSW from confirme​​d cases) 51
Cases reported recovered2,799
Total tests carried out 1,181,085

There were 25,917 tests carried out in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with the record 27,702 tests in the previous 24 hours. There are 99 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, with one in intensive care. This person does not require a ventilator. In NSW, 2,799 people are known to have recovered from COVID-19.

The 18 new cases reported to 8pm include:

  • one person linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster and attended Planet Fitness gym Casula (noted in yesterday’s release)
  • four people who attended the Thai Rock Restaurant in Stockland Mall Wetherill Park, and a close contact of a case who was there
  • two people who are members of the same household that involved two cases reported yesterday
  • one close contact of a previously reported case
  • three people (including two in southern Sydney and in one in South Western Sydney) who have no identified links to known clusters
  • one person remains under investigation
  • five people who are overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

The total number of cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster is 45. This includes 14 who attended the hotel on 3 July, one who attended on 5 July, and 30 who are linked to the cluster but who did not attend the hotel on 3 July.

One of the new locally acquired cases attended Holy Duck! restaurant in Chippendale on 10 July between 7.15pm and 9.30pm. The restaurant was closed last night and is being cleaned and all close contacts are being identified.

NSW Health is directing everyone who attended Holy Duck! restaurant in Chippendale on 10 July between 7.15pm and 9.30pm to immediately self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms should be tested and stay in isolation for a full 14 days even if their test is negative.

One case visited the Anytime Fitness Gym in Merrylands on 14 July from 9.00pm to 10:30 pm. People who attended that the gym at this time should immediately self-isolate for a full 14 days since they were there, watch out for symptoms and get tested if they occur.

As case investigations continue, they have found a number of venues have been attended by cases. Refer to Latest news and updates for information on all venues.

People who work in high-risk settings such as healthcare facilities or aged care homes must not to attend work if they have symptoms and must get tested immediately. People should also not visit relatives in these settings if they have even the mildest of symptoms or have recently returned from Victoria or attended affected venues.

It is essential people follow directions they receive about home isolation and quarantine and maintain COVID-safe practices of physical distancing of 1.5 metres, cough or sneeze into their elbow, and regularly wash their hands.

By likely source of infection

SourceCount
Overseas 1,994
Interstate acquired 75
Locally acquired – contact of a confirmed case and/or in a known cluster 941
Locally acquired – contact not identified 365
Under investigat​ion 4
Total 3,379

Counts reported for a particular day may vary over time with ongoing enhanced surveillance activities.

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptom​atic travellers tested 4,015
Found positive 118
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptoma​tic travellers screened at a day 2 6,035
Found positive46
Since 15 May 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at a day 1019,807
Found positive
110

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