NSW recorded 262 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of these locally acquired cases, 129 are linked to a known case or cluster - 96 are household contacts and 33 are close contacts - and the source of infection for 133 cases is under investigation.
One hundred and ten cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 29 were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Forty-three cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 80 cases remains under investigation.
Six new cases were acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Six previously reported cases were excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 9,866.
Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of five people who were confirmed COVID-19 cases.
A man in his 60s from Sydney's south west died at Campbelltown Hospital. A man in his 70s from Sydney's inner west died at Concord General Repatriation Hospital. A man in his 60s from Sydney's south west died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. A woman in her 80s from Sydney's south west died at Liverpool Hospital. A man in his 60s from western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital.
NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to these people's family and friends. This brings to 21 the number of COVID-related deaths during the current outbreak.
There have been 4,319 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this recent outbreak was reported.
There are currently 290 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 51 people in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation.
There were 106,954 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 105,578.
| Confirmed cases (incl. interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) | 9,866 |
|---|---|
| Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) | 78 |
| Total tests carried out | 9,616,896 |
| Total vaccinations administered in NSW | 4,137,863 |
NSW Health administered 25,196 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 8,232 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 4,137,863, with 1,585,684 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 2,552,179 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021.
Of the 262 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 104 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 84 are from Western Sydney LHD, 42 are from Sydney LHD, 15 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 11 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, three are from Northern Sydney LHD, one is from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, one is from Central Coast LHD and one is from Hunter New England LHD.
Five people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the Newcastle area, including four cases notified after 8pm. Close contacts of all confirmed cases are being tested and will isolate for 14 days.
While the source of infection for these cases continues to be investigated, we now know of a gathering on Blacksmith beach on Friday night, which is believed to be the source of infection for cases in the area.
There are now nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Central Coast, including eight cases notified after 8pm. Eight cases live in the same household. Investigations are ongoing into the source of the infection.
The ninth case is linked to known cases in the Newcastle area. Contact tracing and case investigations are ongoing.
To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock from 5pm today until 12.01am Friday 13 August.
The rules in place for these areas are the same that are already in place across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast.
Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason. They also cannot have visitors in their home. This applies to all social visits from those outside your household, including family and friends.
People still can have one visitor at one time to fulfil carers' responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.
NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage systems in Armidale, Dubbo, Woy Woy and Castle Hill in Sydney's north-west. None of these have known cases of COVID-19 living in any of the areas they serve.
The Armidale sewage treatment plant serves about 24,000 people.
The Dubbo sewage treatment plant serves about 37,000 people.
The Woy Woy sewage treatment plant serves about 41,300 people in the suburbs of Woy Woy Bay, Woy Woy, Phegans Bay, Horsfield Bay, Blackwall, Booker Bay, Ettalong Beach, Umina Beach, Pearl Beach and Patonga.
The Castle Hill sewage treatment plant (Cattai) serves about 8,400 people in the suburbs of Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, Kellyville and Castle Hill.
NSW Health urges everyone in all of these areas to be particularly vigilant for the onset of symptoms that could signal COVID-19, 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 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 410 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.
Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW
| Likely source of infection | Cases past 24 hours |
Cases past 7 days** | All cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas | 6 | 15 | 3,364 |
| Interstate | 0 | 0 | 91 |
| Locally acquired - linked to known case or cluster | 129 | 834 | 4,625 |
| Locally acquired - no links to known case or cluster | 0 | 7 | 469 |
| Locally acquired - investigation ongoing | 133 | 634 | 1,317 |
| Under initial investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 268 | 1,490 | 9,866 |
Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.
*notified from 8pm 3 August 2021 to 8pm 4 August 2021
**from 8pm 29 July 2021 to 8pm 4 August 2021
COVID-19 vaccination update
| COVID-19 vaccination doses administered in NSW | Doses past 24 hours* | All doses |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Health - first doses | 13,619 | 978,098 |
| NSW Health - second doses | 11,577 | 607,586 |
| Total | 25,196 | 1,585,684 |
*notified from 8pm 3 August 2021 to 8pm 4 August 2021
Video of today's press conference will be uploaded to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - press conferences and video updates.
