21 November 2020

NSW recorded no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Ten cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine. This brings the total number of cases in NSW to 4,338 since the start of the pandemic.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (incl. interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 4,338
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) 55
Total tests carried out 3,371,596

There were 16,329 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 18,391 in the previous 24 hours.

NSW Health is treating 70 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases, 96 per cent, are being treated by NSW Health in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

To further improve our ability to control the spread of COVID-19, NSW Health is asking people arriving in NSW from South Australia, by whatever mode of transport, to complete a declaration form to make it easier to check if they have visited any of the areas or venues of concern identified by the South Australian authorities and provide contact details if follow-up is required. This also applies to people arriving in NSW who have been in South Australia within the past 14 days.

Anyone who has been in South Australia since Friday 6 November should regularly monitor the SA Health alert page for areas or venues of concern and follow the advice of SA Health. They must immediately self-isolate if they have been to any of the identified areas or venues and get tested if even the mildest of symptoms appear.

Travellers who are not NSW residents who have visited any of these venues will not be permitted to travel to NSW until the 14-day period has elapsed. NSW residents are advised to defer non-essential travel to Adelaide, while people from Adelaide should defer non-essential travel to NSW.

While there have been no new locally acquired cases in NSW for the past 14 days, we continue to encourage people to get tested, even if they display only the mildest symptoms, such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, or fever. Any of these symptoms could signal a COVID-19 infection.

Testing allows us to prevent onward transmission by helping us identify as many cases in the community as quickly as possible. Every person who comes forward for testing is playing an important role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. Most people receive their test results within 24 hours.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away – don’t delay.
  • Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
  • Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
  • Wear a mask when using public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in shops, places of worship and other places where you can’t physically distance. When taking taxis or rideshares, commuters should also sit in the back.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas 10
392,378
Interstate 0
090
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster 001,437***
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster
00433
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing 0
00
Under initial investigation0
00
Total10
394,338

Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.

* notified from 8pm 19 November 2020 to 8pm 20 November 2020"
** from 8pm 14 November 2020 to 8pm 20 November 2020
*** includes an old case that was reported this week, whose onset was likely earlier in October

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested 7,023
Found positive 157
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 2 48,704
Found positive268
Since 15 May 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1060,804
Found positive144

Video update