NSW recorded no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Four cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,363 since the start of the pandemic.
Testing has jumped dramatically across the state, with 16,291 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 6,976 in the previous 24 hours.
“NSW Health is treating 88 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases, 96 per cent, are being treated by NSW Health in non-acute, out-of-hospital care,” the health authority said in a statement this morning.
It has, however, renewed calls for testing in Sydney’s Liverpool region, after COVID-19 virus fragments were detected in sewage at the Liverpool sewage treatment plant.
“Detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the area served by this sewage treatment plant.”
“However, 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 just a cold.”
The area served by the treatment plant includes the suburbs of Bardia, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Abbotsbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Holsworthy, Edmondson Park, Austral, Cecil Park, Cecil Hills, Elizabeth Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Edensor Park, Green Valley, Pleasure Point, Casula, Hammondville, Liverpool, Moorebank, Wattle Grove, Miller, Cartwright, Lurnea, Warwick Farm, Chipping Norton, Voyager Point, Macquarie Links, Glenfield, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Leppington, West Hoxton, Horningsea Park, Middleton Grange, Len Waters Estate, Carnes Hill, Denham Court.
“People in these areas must be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms appear.”
“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. The only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing.”
