NSW latest Covid-19 update as at 15 July

NSW recorded 65 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 40 are linked to a known case or cluster - 27 are household contacts and 13 are close contacts - and the source of infection for 25 cases remains under investigation.

Twenty-nine cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and seven cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Twenty-eight cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of one case remains under investigation.

Two new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is now 6,429.

There have been 929 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

There are currently 73 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 19 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation.

There were 58,299 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 65,322.

NSW Health administered 18,165 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 4,810 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 2,844,766 with 1,112,596 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,732,170 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Tuesday 13 July.

Of the 65 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 46 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), eight are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, six are from Western Sydney LHD, four are from Sydney LHD, and one is from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD.

People in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave. You should only be shopping for essential items, and only leaving the house for as short a period of time as possible. We encourage people to shop online or use click and collect options. If you do leave home for an essential reason, remember to check into and out of anywhere you visit.

We are asking people not to seek exceptions to the stay-at-home rules, but instead to ensure they comply with them, in order to reduce the number of infectious cases of COVID-19 in the community.

Transmission in workplaces remains a concern. Everyone should work from home if possible. For essential workplaces:

• Limit the interaction and mixing of employees, prevent meetings and gatherings, and reduce the size of the groups.
• Masks are mandatory - including indoors and outdoors on construction sites.
• Remind everyone in the workplace that they must not attend if they have any cold-like symptoms. They need to get a test immediately and isolate until they get a negative result. They also need to check the NSW Government website every day for updated venues of concern in case they are a contact.

The high number of COVID-19 cases and exposure venues in the Fairfield Local Government Area (LGA) means Fairfield residents who work in other LGAs must now be tested for COVID-19 every three days, even if they do not have symptoms.

At this time, it is most important to focus on anyone with who has COVID-19 symptoms or is a close or casual contact of confirmed cases.

These people must immediately get tested as soon as possible. We ask you to please stay in the line when testing clinics are busy, and identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms.

People who don't have symptoms who will be travelling outside of the Fairfield area for work have until the end of Friday 16 July to get tested.

These people, who do not have symptoms, do not need to wait for a negative test before going to work although they must carry proof of the test and then after 16 July, they must get a test every three days.

NSW Health has expanded COVID-19 testing across the Fairfield LGA with more 24/7 clinics and extended hours at existing sites.

There are three 24/7 testing sites:

• The car park of the Endeavour Sports Park on Maud Street in Fairfield.
• The drive-through testing clinic at the Fairfield Showground on Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood, is now operating 24/7 days a week (from 6am today).
• A brand-new 24/7 drive-through testing clinic opened in the Mounties Club car park on Humphries Rd, Mount Pritchard at 10am today.

Hours of operation were extended at the Wetherill Park 4Cyte Drive-Through Clinic, 22-30 Mansfield Street (enter via 31 Rosetti Street), Wetherill Park, open 7 days 7am to 10pm.

Those also already operating across the Fairfield LGA:

• The Smithfield Clinical Labs Pathology Drive-Through Clinic, Rosford Street Reserve, entry via Rosford Street, Smithfield -7 days a week, 8am to 6pm.
• The Fairfield Hospital testing clinic is open Mondays to Sundays 8.30am to 5pm
• Ash Road drive-through clinic at Prestons Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6.30pm.

In addition, we are working closely with private pathology providers to support the establishment of new drive-through clinics and extend the hours of existing clinics at:

• Club Marconi car park, Prairie Vale Rd, Bossley Park, 7 days, 8.30am to 6pm
• Fairfield RSL Club carpark, Bertha St, Fairfield, 7 days a week, 8am to 6pm
• Brenan Park, Bourke St, Smithfield, 7 days a week, 6am to 8pm.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID‑19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms, or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

There are more than 380 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.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

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

*notified from 8pm 13 July 2021 to 8pm 14 July 2021

**from 8pm 6 July 2021 to 8pm 14 July 2021

COVID-19 vaccination update

*notified from 8pm 13 July 2021 to 8pm 14 July 2021

Video of today's press conference will be uploaded at COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - press conferences and video updates.