No cases of locally acquired COVID-19 were diagnosed in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Nine cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,306 since the start of the pandemic.
There were 17,226 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 17,184 in the previous 24 hours.
NSW Health has thanked the community for its support, saying every person who comes forward for testing is playing an important role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“With the weather becoming warmer and people starting to attend more social gatherings, NSW Health is calling on the community to maintain the COVID safe behaviours that have been key to stopping the spread of the virus,” it said.
“Though there have been no locally acquired cases in NSW in recent days, now is not the time to drop our guard.
“Everyone needs to continue to be alert to the ongoing risk of transmission of COVID-19, to keep practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and most importantly to get tested and isolate if they feel unwell.”
NSW Health is currently treating 72 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases – 93% – are being treated by NSW Health in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.
NSW Health is again calling on people in south western Sydney and north west Sydney to get tested if they have even the mildest symptoms after the state’s sewage surveillance program detected further traces of the virus in these areas.
Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 were detected in samples taken on Thursday 12 November from the sewerage system that drains parts of Leppington, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Denham Court, West Hoxton, Hoxton Park, Middleton Grange, Horningsea Park, Carnes Hill, Edmondson Park, Prestons and Miller. The catchment takes sewage from approximately 180,000 people.
Additionally, fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 were also detected in samples taken on Wednesday 11 November from the sewerage system that drains parts of Quakers Hill, Castle Hill, Annangrove, Kellyville, Box Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Bella Vista, Parklea, Acacia Gardens and Norwest. The catchment takes sewage from approximately 120,000 people.
While detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of older cases of COVID 19 diagnosed in these areas, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local community in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are simply a cold.
“Symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be COVID-19.”
“After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received.”
There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. Most people receive their test results within 24 hours.Â
