NSW recorded 251 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The total number of confirmed cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern remains at five following yesterday's update.
Nine cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 81,727.
NSW Health can confirm initial testing strongly indicates another overseas traveller, who recently arrived in NSW from southern Africa, has been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern.
The person tested positive to COVID-19 yesterday, and is fully vaccinated. NSW Health is undertaking further investigation into this case.
When confirmed, this would bring the total number of confirmed cases of Omicron in NSW to six.
There are currently 154 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 25 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.
There were 85,403 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 62,166.
| Cases | Count |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) | 81,727 |
| Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) | 630 |
| Total tests carried out | 21,876,884 |
| Total vaccinations administered in NSW | 12,885,865 |
As announced yesterday, the traveller who recently arrived in NSW and is isolating at home on the Central Coast has been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern.
The person, who is fully vaccinated, arrived in Sydney on flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney on 25 November and travelled by private car to the Central Coast. They had been in southern Africa and returned before NSW Health directed travellers from that region to go into isolation. They visited a number of venues in Sydney and on the Central Coast.
NSW Health reiterates that everyone on the flight is considered a close contact and will need to get tested immediately for COVID-19 and isolate for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
NSW Health is contacting all passengers and flight crew to advise them of their isolation requirements. They can also call NSW Health on 1800 943 553 for further advice.
In line with Commonwealth measures, all travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
All fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours. They will only be able to exit isolation at the end of the 72 hour period if they have received a negative result. These people must also complete a PCR test on day six after arrival.
Any unvaccinated arrivals go directly into 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine.
Anyone who has already arrived in NSW who has been in any of the eight African countries within the previous 14 days must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.
Penalties for non-compliance with the isolation, testing and quarantine requirements have increased to $5,000 for individuals (from $1,000), and $10,000 for corporations (from $5,000).
Across NSW, 94.6 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 92.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Of the people aged 12 to 15, 81.3 per cent have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 76.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 12,885,865 with 4,162,783 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 8,723,082 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11.59pm on Monday 29 November 2021.
If you haven't received a COVID-19 vaccination yet, please don't delay. Even if you have had COVID-19 and recovered, you should get vaccinated.
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.
Of the 251 cases reported to 8pm last night, 70 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 40 are from Western Sydney LHD, 36 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 26 are from Sydney LHD, 17 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 12 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 11 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 10 are from Hunter New England LHD, eight are from Mid North Coast LHD, six are from Murrumbidgee LHD, five are from Southern NSW LHD, four are from Western NSW LHD, two are from Central Coast LHD, one is from Northern NSW LHD, one is in a correctional setting, and two are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage samples collected from Merriwa where there are no recent known cases.
Everyone who has been to Merriwa recently is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
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, no matter how mild, get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result.
There are more than 450 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.
COVID-19 vaccination update
| NSW COVID-19 vaccination rate | Total* (ages 16 and over) | Total* (ages 12 - 15) |
|---|---|---|
| All providers - first doses | 94.6% | 81.3% |
| All providers - fully vaccinated | 92.5% | 76.7% |
* to 11.59pm 29 November 2021
| COVID-19 vaccination doses administered by NSW Health | Doses past 24 hours* | All doses |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Health - first doses | 273 | 2,195,947 |
| NSW Health - second doses | 683 | 1,920,491 |
| NSW Health - third doses | 1,757 | 46,347 |
| Total | 2,713 | 4,162,785 |
*notified from 8pm 29 November 2021 to 8pm 30 November 2021
