NSW latest Covid-19 update as at 17 January

​NSW recorded six new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. All six new cases are close contacts of the western Sydney case reported yesterday.

There were also three cases recorded in returned travellers, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,877.

There were 12,764 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 14,574. The drop in daily testing numbers remains a concern, and NSW Health renews its calls for people to get tested if they are experiencing even the mildest of symptoms.

Of the nine new cases reported to 8pm last night:

• Six are locally acquired, and all are close contacts of the western Sydney case reported yesterday. Investigations into the source of the infection are continuing.
• Three were acquired overseas and are in hotel quarantine.

A staff member at Concord Repatriation General Hospital is one of today's new cases. They are now in isolation but worked three shifts at the hospital in the cardiology and radiology wards while potentially infectious on the 12th, 13th and 14th of January. The person's role involves minimal contact with patients. They wore a face mask during each shift.

Seven other staff have been identified as close contacts of this case. They are self-isolating and have all have tested negative for COVID-19 to date. Staff who have been identified as casual contacts are being notified by the public health unit and are undergoing testing. There is no ongoing risk to staff or patients.

NSW Health last night issued public health alerts relating to new venues and some train services.

Anyone who went to the Wentworthville Medical and Dental Clinic at 122/128 Station Street, Wentworthville, and was in the dental, physio and imaging waiting room on Friday 15 January between 11.30am and 1.15pm is a close contact who must immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result. People in other areas of the clinic at that time should monitor for symptoms and immediately isolate and get tested if they appear.

Anyone who was at Auburn Centrelink at 5-9 Macquarie Road, Auburn, on Thursday, 14 January between 3pm and 4.15pm should monitor for symptoms and if they appear, immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Anyone who travelled on a number of T2 line train services between Warwick Farm and Auburn on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 January must also monitor for symptoms and if they appear, immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. Details of service times are available on the NSW Government website.

People are urged to check the website for regularly updated details of venues of concern, and affected public transport routes, and are asked to follow the health advice provided.

The state's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the treatment plant in Glenfield. This catchment takes in the suburbs of Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Currans Hill, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Gilead, Glen Alpine, Glenfield, Gregory Hills, Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Kearns, Kentlyn, Leumeah, Long Point, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville and Woodbine. 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.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage may reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the areas served by this sewage treatment plant. However, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local community in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are just a cold.

Anyone who is experiencing any cold- or flu-like symptoms, no matter how mild, is urged to isolate immediately, get tested and continue to isolate until a negative result is received. This is particularly important in areas where there have been recent cases, including western Sydney, south-west Sydney, the Northern Beaches and Wollongong.

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 COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.

NSW Health is treating 100 COVID-19 cases, one of whom is 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

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

*notified from 8pm 15 January 2020 to 8pm 16 January 2021

**from 8pm 10 January 2021 to 8pm 16 January 2021

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

* Testing previously carried out on day 10 is now carried out on day 12.

Today's press conference will be uploaded here to the NSW Health website.