NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
There were two cases acquired overseas. A previously reported locally acquired case has been excluded following further investigation.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,902.
There were 7,819 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 8,689.
The drop in testing numbers is a concern. Although NSW has had nine days without a diagnosed locally acquired case of COVID-19, the virus may still be circulating in the community and now is not the time to drop our guard.
NSW Health’s sewage surveillance program has recently detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Liverpool treatment plant.
The Liverpool treatment plant takes in a catchment of close to 180,000 people from the suburbs of Bardia, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Abbotsbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Holsworthy, Edmondson Park, Austral, Cecil Park, Cecil Hills, Elizabeth Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Edensor Park, Green Valley, Pleasure Point, Casula, Hammondville, Liverpool, Moorebank, Wattle Grove, Miller, Cartwright, Lurnea, Warwick Farm, Chipping Norton, Voyager Point, Macquarie Links, Glenfield, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Leppington, West Hoxton, Horningsea Park, Middleton Grange, Len Waters Estate, Carnes Hill, and Denham Court.
NSW Health urges everyone living or working in these suburbs to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate immediately if they appear.
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand is investigating a positive test result for a variant of concern in a person who recently returned from overseas.
The Federal Government has suspended ‘green zone’ travel arrangements between New Zealand and Australia for at least 72 hours, effective from 2pm Monday 25 January.
The decision to suspend the ‘green zone’ travel arrangements has been taken out of an abundance of caution to reduce the risk of this variant, which has been shown to spread more readily between individuals, entering the Australian community.
It is recommended all passengers from New Zealand with a flight scheduled before 2pm on Thursday 28 January reconsider their need to travel.
All passengers from New Zealand who arrive in NSW before 2pm on Thursday will be tested for COVID-19 and transferred to hotel quarantine for up to 14 days or until an exemption is granted following greater understanding of the level of risk to the Australian community.
Passengers who had already arrived in NSW on flights from New Zealand since Thursday 14 January must isolate immediately and undergo a COVID-19 test. They must continue to isolate until a negative result has been received.
NSW Health is contacting passengers who arrived in NSW from New Zealand since 14 January to advise them of the new requirements and to notify them of the venues of concern on the New Zealand Health website.
There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week, including this holiday long weekend. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 clinics or contact your GP.
NSW Health is treating 68 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (94 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review. *notified from 8pm 24 January 2021 to 8pm 25 January 2021 **from 8pm 19 January 2021 to 8pm 25 January 2021
* Testing previously carried out on day 10 is now carried out on day 12.
COVID-19 Update - 26 January 2021
