Across NSW, 94.9 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.4 per cent have received two doses.
Of the people aged 12 to 15, 81.5 per cent have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.1 per cent have received two doses.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 13,285,675 with 4,262,147 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 9,023,528 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11.59pm on Saturday 18 December 2021.
NSW Health encourages everyone who is eligible to book into a NSW Health vaccination clinic or another provider without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.
Everyone aged 18 years and older may now receive a booster five months after receiving their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19. If you are due for your booster over the Christmas new year period, you can have it a little earlier.
We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose. Talk to your GP for more advice.
There are currently 261 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 33 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.
There were 144,368 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 148,937.
NSW recorded 2,501 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Nineteen COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 99,851.
NSW Health continues to remind everyone across the community to continue to practice COVID-safe behaviours, including recommending wearing a mask in settings where you cannot physically distance.
Around a quarter of people who have been exposed to COVID-19 may still develop their infection after seven days. For the next seven days close contacts should exercise caution and not enter a high-risk setting, should avoid large indoor gatherings, use a RAT test if coming into contact with vulnerable people, and should get tested again on day 12.
Get tested and stay home if you have the mildest of symptoms. Do not go out and visit family, friends or go to social events if you are unwell. Practice good hand hygiene by washing and sanitising your hands regularly.
If you do not have symptoms, consider using a Rapid Antigen Test before going out.
Of the 2,501 cases reported to 8pm last night, 660 are from Hunter New England Local Health District (LHD), 417 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 339 are from Sydney LHD, 315 are from Western Sydney LHD, 250 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 227 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 77 are from Central Coast LHD, 40 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 34 are from Northern NSW LHD, 24 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 24 are from Mid North Coast LHD, 20 are from Western NSW LHD, nine are from Murrumbidgee LHD, seven are from Far West LHD, four are from Southern NSW LHD, and 54 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
All cases are contacted by text message to inform them of their positive diagnosis. Cases are asked to alert their household contacts and people who they stayed with for 4 hours or more to get a PCR test and isolate for seven days, regardless of the result.
NSW Health’s interviews and detailed follow-up are now focusing on places with people at high risk of severe disease, such as healthcare, aged care, disability care and correctional facilities, as well as venues with significant outbreaks.
If you are directed to get tested for COVID‑19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the self-isolation rules.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms it is still important that you have a test and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result.
There are 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.
*to 11.59pm 18 December 2021
*notified from 8pm 18 December 2021 to 8pm 19 December 2021
Video of today’s update