NSW latest Covid update as at 21 December

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, 81.4 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 13,305,592, with 4,276,036 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 9,029,556 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11.59pm on Sunday 19 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 a 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.

Sadly, NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of two people.

A man in his 80s from Sydney's southern suburbs died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

A woman in her 70s from the Central West died at the Gosling Creek Aged Care facility, where she acquired her infection. She was not vaccinated and had underlying health conditions.

NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones.

There are currently 284 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 39 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.

There were 136,972 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 144,368.

NSW recorded 3,057 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night .

Twenty-four COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 102,884.

NSW Health continues to remind everyone to practise COVID-safe behaviours, including recommending people wear a mask in settings where they cannot physically distance.

Around a quarter of people 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 rapid antigen test if coming into contact with vulnerable people.

Get tested and stay home if you have the mildest of symptoms. Do not visit family, friends or go to social events if you are unwell. Wash and sanitise your hands regularly.

If you do not have symptoms, consider using a rapid antigen test before going out.

Of the 3,057 cases reported to 8pm last night, 820 are from Hunter New England Local Health District (LHD), 525 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 386 are from Western Sydney LHD, 378 are from Sydney LHD, 346 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 268 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 85 are from Central Coast LHD, 82 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 48 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 26 are from Northern NSW LHD, 24 are from Mid North Coast LHD, 17 are from Western NSW LHD, six are from Southern NSW LHD, two are from Murrumbidgee LHD, and 44 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 four 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, 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

*to 11.59pm 19 December 2021

**Please note: The 12 to 15-year-old vaccination rate has dropped slightly as unvaccinated children move into the 12 to 15-year-old bracket and 16-year-olds move into the 16+ age bracket. This results in small movements in age cohorts**

*notified from 8pm 19 December 2021 to 8pm 20 December 2021