NSW latest Covid update as at 30 November

NSW recorded 179 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including two with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern. The total number of confirmed cases of Omicron is now four in NSW.

Four cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 81,485.

Sadly, NSW Health is today reporting three deaths.

A man in his 50s from Tamworth died at Tamworth Base Hospital. He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

A woman in her 60s from south eastern Sydney died at St Vincent's Hospital. She had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

A man in his 40s from western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital. He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones.

There are currently 160 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 26 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.

There were 62,166 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 47,175.

Genomic testing has confirmed two more overseas travellers have been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern. The total number of confirmed cases of Omicron is now four in NSW.

Both passengers arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Singapore Airlines flight SQ211 Sunday, 28 November. They are fully vaccinated and isolating in the Special Health Accommodation.

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 isolation requirements. They can also call NSW Health on 1800 943 553 for further advice.

NSW Health is investigating two COVID cases who arrived in NSW on flight QR908 on 25 November.  Both are isolating at their respective homes.  Urgent genomic sequencing is underway to determine whether these cases have been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant.  All passengers on this flight must be tested immediately, regardless of previous test results and vaccination status, and isolate until a negative result is received.

Another international traveller, who is isolating at their home in Sydney after arriving on a flight from southern Africa on Tuesday 23 November, has tested positive for the Delta variant.

This person also travelled to Melbourne on flight VA800, departing at 6am on Thursday 25 November, and returned to Sydney on flight QF486, which departed Melbourne at 7pm that evening.

Passengers in the surrounding seats on flight VA800 from Melbourne to Sydney have been deemed close contacts and all other passengers and air crew are casual contacts.

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, pending further health advice.

Any unvaccinated arrivals go directly into 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine.

All flight crew who have been overseas during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 14 days or until their departure on another flight that leaves Australia, consistent with the current rules for unvaccinated flight crew.

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.

Across NSW, 94.5 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 92.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of the people aged 12 to 15, 81.2 per cent have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 76.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 12,871,783 with 4,160,072 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 8,711,711 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11.59pm on Sunday 28 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 179 cases reported to 8pm last night, 41 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 22 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 18 are from Sydney LHD, 18 are from Western Sydney LHD, 14 are from Mid North Coast LHD, 14 are from Western NSW LHD, 10 are from Hunter New England LHD, 10 are from Northern Sydney LHD, eight are from Central Coast LHD, eight are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, seven are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, three are from Far West LHD, three are from Murrumbidgee LHD and three are yet to be assigned to a LHD.

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage samples collected from Gerringong and Gerroa, where there are no recent known cases.

Everyone in these areas 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

*to 11.59pm 28 November 2021      

*The 12 to 15-year-old first dose vaccination rate has dropped slightly. There can be small movements like this because the rate is calculated based on the total number of 12 to 15-year-olds in NSW and over time the make-up of this group changes due to unvaccinated 11-year-olds turning 12-years-old and 15-year-olds moving out of the group as they turn 16-years-old.

*notified from 8pm 28 November 2021 to 8pm 29 November 2021.

Today's video update.