Thread by @NSWHealth

NSW recorded 77 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 55 are linked to a known case or cluster – 39 are household contacts and 16 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 22 cases remains under investigation.

Thirty-two cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and nine cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Thirty-three cases were infectious in the community, and three cases remain under investigation.

Five new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 6,054.

Sadly, a woman in her 90s from south west Sydney died yesterday at Liverpool Hospital. She was a close contact of a locally acquired case and was tested for COVID-19 on Friday, returning a positive result early yesterday morning.

NSW Health extends its sincere sympathies to her family.

There have been 566 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

There are currently 52 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 15 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation.

There were 48,754 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 42,023.

NSW Health administered 15,310 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 7,073 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 2,678,470, with 1,041,593 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,636,877 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Friday 9 July 2021.

Of the 79 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 52 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 11 are from Sydney LHD and 10 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD. Transmission in these areas continues to be of great concern.

Eleven further cases have been recorded to 8pm last night linked to a gathering at the Meriton Suites Waterloo on Saturday 26 June. This brings the total number of cases linked to this venue to 46, seven people who attended the gathering and 39 subsequent contacts.

The majority of the 77 new locally acquired cases reported today are linked to known cases and are particularly prominent among family members, friends and other close contacts, such as work colleagues.

People in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave. We cannot have visitors to our homes and everyone is reminded that your household only includes those who live with you, not any other family members.

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 are detections at Castle Hill-Cattai, Penrith and Port Kembla, which currently have no known cases. This is the third time Penrith has tested positive with no known cases.

Penrith sewage treatment plant serves about 97,000 people in suburbs including Cambridge Gardens, Cambridge Park, Leonay, Emu Plains, Glenbrook, Penrith, South Penrith, Glenmore Park, Jamisontown, Regentville, Lapstone, Orchard Hills, Kingswood, Castlereagh, Cranebrook, Llandilo,

Sun Valley, Mount Riverview, Emu Heights, Jordan Springs, Mulgoa, Warrimoo, Blaxland and Yellow Rock, as well as the Blue Mountains National Park.

Castle Hill-Cattai sewage treatment plant serves approximately 8,400 people in suburbs including Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, Kellyville and Castle Hill.

Port Kembla sewage network serves about 49,000 people in suburbs including Windang, Lake Heights, Cringila, Warrawong, Koonawarra, Brownsville, Dapto, Berkeley, Kanahooka, Horsley, Avondale, Cleveland, Unanderra, Kembla Grange, Primbee and Port Kembla.

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 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.