NSW recorded three locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional two cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW to 4,739 since the beginning of the pandemic.
There were 32,010 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 27,894. NSW Health thanks the community for coming forward and urges people to continue to do so in the days ahead.
| Cases | Count |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) | 4,739 |
| Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) | 56 |
| Total tests carried out | 4,119,579 |
Of the five new cases to 8pm last night:
- Two new locally acquired cases are from western Sydney and investigations are ongoing into the source of their infections. The third new locally acquired case, also from western Sydney, is a close contact of one of these cases.
- Two cases were acquired overseas and are in hotel quarantine.
NSW Health has been notified of a new venue of concern in Wollongong, which has been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. Anyone who attended The Swallowed Anchor at 156/160 Crown St, Wollongong NSW, at any time of the day on Saturday 19 December, must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health.
New venues of concern have also been notified in Berala and Smithfield in western Sydney. Residents of western Sydney and Wollongong are asked to be vigilant, to check the details of identified venues on the NSW Government website, and to come forward for testing with even the mildest symptoms.
A full list of venues and public transport routes of concern throughout NSW, and the associated public health advice, is available from the NSW Government website at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates. We urge people to check this list before they attend any gatherings or social events.
The state's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID 19 at a sewage treatment plant in Wollongong. This catchment comprises almost 200,000 people and takes in sewage from Tarrawanna, Port Kembla, Primbee, Scarborough, Wombarra, Corrimal, Coledale, Austinmer, Bulli, Thirroul, Russell Vale, Bellambi, Woonona, Wollongong, Towradgi, Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong, Fernhill, East Corrimal, Gwynneville, Coniston, Wongawilli, Kembla Grange, Dombarton, Farmborough Heights, Kembla Heights, West Wollongong, Mount Kembla, Figtree, Mount Ousley, Mount Pleasant, Balgownie, Keiraville, Spring Hill, Unanderra, Mount Saint Thomas, Mangerton, Cleveland, Avondale, Horsley, Huntley, Kanahooka, Berkeley, Dapto, Brownsville, Koonawarra, Warrawong, Cringila, Lake Heights, and Windang.
Everyone in these areas is asked to be alert for symptoms, to get tested immediately if they appear and then isolate until they receive a negative result. Testing clinics are open throughout the holiday break, including New Year's Day. There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.
NSW Health is treating 122 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (98 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW
| Likely source of infection | Cases past 24 hours* | Cases past 7 days** | All cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas | 2 | 38 | 2,606 |
| Interstate | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| Locally acquired - linked to known case or cluster | 1 | 45 | 1,598 |
| Locally acquired - no links to known case or cluster | 0 | 0 | 434 |
| Locally acquired - investigation ongoing | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Under initial investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 90 | 4,739 |
Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.
* notified from 8pm 30 December 2020 to 8pm 31 December 2020
** from 8pm 25 December 2020 to 8pm 31 December 2020
Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date
| Since 29 March 2020 | Count |
|---|---|
| Symptomatic travellers tested | 8,365 |
| Found positive | 176 |
| Since 30 June 2020 | Count |
|---|---|
| Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 2 | 63,419 |
| Found positive | 396 |
| Since 15 May 2020 | Count |
|---|---|
| Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 10 | 75,856 |
| Found positive | 175 |
Video update
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/press-conferences.aspx
