Thread by @NSWHealth

NSW recorded 78 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 49 are linked to a known case or cluster – 45 are household contacts and 4 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 29 cases is under investigation.

Thirty-seven cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and eight cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Twenty-one cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 12 cases remains under investigation.

Sadly, as reported yesterday, a woman in her 50s who was a confirmed COVID-19 case has died. She was a resident of south-western Sydney and a close contact of a COVID-19 case. NSW Health extends its sincere sympathy to her family and friends.

One new overseas-acquired case was recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is now 6,931.

There have been 1,418 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

There are currently 95 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 27 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.

There were 62,860 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 75,845.

NSW has now administered more than eight million COVID-19 tests. NSW Health thanks the community for coming out for testing in such high numbers and continues to urge anyone with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms to immediately be tested -

- and isolate until a negative result is received.

NSW Health administered 22,732 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 8,259 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 3,094,223 with 1,211,619 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,882,604 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Sunday 18 July 2021.

Of the 78 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 52 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 11 are from Western Sydney LHD, three are from Sydney LHD, 11 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, and one is from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD.

Given the high number of cases in the community, restrictions have been tightened across Greater Sydney to limit transmission of the virus’s highly infectious Delta strain.

Under a Public Health Order effective until 11.59pm on Friday 30 July, every employer across NSW must require a worker to work from home unless it is not reasonably practicable.

Residents of Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool Local Government Areas (LGAs) are not permitted to leave their LGA unless they are an authorised worker.

A list of workers who are authorised to leave their LGA for work if it is not practicable to work from home is available here: nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules….

Where Fairfield LGA residents are authorised to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested for COVID-19 every three days, even if they do not have symptoms.

Anyone who leaves their home must carry a mask with them at all times. They must be worn when working outdoors, by all school staff, by all people in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queue waiting for products such as coffee and food.

Across Greater Sydney, carpooling must cease unless among members of the same household. People over 16 years of age must carry evidence of their address when in a vehicle with another person and provide it to police upon request.

Construction in Greater Sydney must be paused and all non-urgent maintenance work including cleaning services and repair work on residential premises is only allowed if required to ensure the health, safety or security of the place of residence or the people who reside there.

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

At this time, it is most important to focus on anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or is a close or casual contact of confirmed cases. These people must immediately get tested as soon as possible.

We ask you to please stay in the line when testing clinics are busy and identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or if you are a contact of a case.

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: nsw.gov.au/covid-19/lates….

There are more than 400 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.