NSW has recorded 818 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with just 120 linked to known clusters, leaving the source of infection for 698 still under investigation.
NSW Health says 47 of the new cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 15 were in isolation for part of their infectious period.
“Forty-two cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 714 cases remains under investigation,” the health authority said.
​Sadly, NSW Health has also confirmed the deaths of three people who had contracted the COVID-19 virus.
​A man in his 80s from south-west Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital, where he acquired his infection.
“His is the 11th death linked to an outbreak at the hospital’s geriatric ward,” NSW Health said.
​”A man in his 80s from Newcastle died at John Hunter Hospital, having acquired his infection at the RFBI Hawkins Masonic Village in Edgeworth. This is the second death linked to an outbreak at this aged care facility.”
​The third death was a woman aged in her 80s from south-west Sydney, who died at Campbelltown Hospital.
“​NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.”
​”This brings the number of COVID-related deaths to 74 since 16 June, and the number of lives lost to 130 since the beginning of the pandemic.”
​There are currently 586 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 100 people in intensive care, 32 of whom require ventilation.
From today, the following additional rule applies across Greater Sydney (including regional NSW) until 28 August:
- Mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising.
The following additional rules apply for residents and businesses in LGAs of concern:
- Curfews from 9pm to 5am (except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people;
- Outdoor exercise is limited to one hour per day;
- The following retail premises must close except for click and collect: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies (tradespeople are allowed to shop in-store where relevant); and
- All exams and other education or professional development related activities will move online, not including the HSC.
The following new restrictions around workplaces and authorised workers from the LGAs of concern have been introduced:
- Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in the LGAs of concern must have their first vaccination dose by 30 August;
- Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their worksite, they have had a PCR test or they have had their first vaccination dose by 30 August;
- From Saturday 28 August, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home; and
- From Saturday 28 August, anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.
Also from today, workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Fairfield LGAs no longer need to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA.
NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has recently detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the sewage treatment plants in Bateau Bay and Cobar. The Bateau Bay sewage treatment plant serves around 39,000 people and includes the suburbs of Bateau Bay, Blue Bay, Killarney Vale, Long Jetty, Shelly Beach, The Entrance, The Entrance North and Toowoon Bay. The Cobar sewage treatment plant serves around 4,000 people.
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, NSW Health said.
