Thread by @NSWHealth

NSW recorded 50 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 37 are linked to a known case or cluster – 14 are household contacts and 23 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 13 cases remains under investigation.

Thirteen cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 11 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Twenty-six cases were infectious in the community.

Two new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 5,972.

There have been 489 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

There are currently 47 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 16 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation.

There were 42,023 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 42,152.

NSW Health administered a record 22,121 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 7,080 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 2,634,278, with 1,026,283 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,607,995 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Thursday 8 July 2021.

Of the 50 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 29 are from south-west Sydney and 16 are from south-east Sydney. Transmission in these two areas continues to be of great concern.

Ten further cases have been recorded to 8pm last night linked to a gathering at the Meriton Suites Waterloo on Saturday 26 June. These cases were contacts of people who attended the gathering and bring the total number of cases linked to this venue to 35.

People in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave.

Given the growing number of cases, COVID-19 restrictions have been tightened across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour. These measures are in place to protect the health and safety of the community.

From 5pm yesterday, the following restrictions came into place:
•Outdoor public gatherings are limited to two people (excluding members of the same household)

•People must stay in their Local Government Area or within 10km of home for exercise and outdoor recreation, with no carpooling between non-household members
•Browsing in shops is prohibited, plus only one person per household, per day may leave the home for shopping

•Funerals are limited to ten people in total (this will take effect from tomorrow Sunday 11 July).

The four reasons to leave your home remain in place:
•Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only)

•Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons)
•Exercise with no more than 2 (unless members of the same household)

•Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.

NSW Health advises children can enter Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour with a parent or caregiver for the purposes of visitation to another parent or caregiver.

We are asking people not to seek exceptions to the rules, but to ensure they comply with them so we reduce the number of infectious cases of COVID-19 in the community.

NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in a number of sewerage systems in Sydney. Of particular concern is a detection at Glenfield, which has no known cases.

Glenfield sewage treatment plant serves about 53,500 people in suburbs including Minto, Bow Bowing, St Andrews, Raby, Eschol Park, Kearns, Denham Court, Varroville, Long Point, Glenfield, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Casula, Appin, Holsworthy, Ingleburn and Bardia.

People in these areas are asked to be especially vigilant for the onset of any cold-like symptoms, and if they appear, to be tested immediately 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.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly : nsw.gov.au/covid-19/lates… -

-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.

NSW Health thanks the community for coming forward for testing. High testing numbers are vital in detecting cases of COVID-19 in order to prevent further transmission, and to keep our friends and families safe.

We continue to urge anyone with even the mildest of symptoms to be tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received. If symptoms appear again, be tested and isolate again.

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: nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-t… or contact your GP.