16 January 2021

​NSW recorded 1 new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

There were also 11 cases recorded in returned travellers, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,868.

There were 14,574 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 16,070.

Cases Count
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities)4,868
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases)56
Total tests carried out4,460,152

Of the 12 new cases reported to 8pm last night

  • 1 case, in a man from western Sydney, was locally acquired. Investigations into the source of the infection are under way, but it is believed to be linked to the Berala BWS cluster.
  • 11 were acquired overseas.

It is very likely that COVID-19 is continuing to circulate in the community among people who have mild or no symptoms. It is vital that we pick up every case of COVID-19 if we are to prevent further community transmission, and the best way we have of doing this is maintaining high testing numbers.

Anyone who is experiencing any cold- or flu-like symptoms, no matter how mild, is urged to isolate immediately, get tested and continue to isolate until a negative result is received. This is particularly important in areas where there have been recent cases, including western Sydney, south-west Sydney, the Northern Beaches and Wollongong.

There are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly for information on new and updated venues of concern related to cases of COVID-19, and follow the health advice if you were at any of these locations at the times listed.

NSW Health is treating 100 COVID-19 cases, one of whom is in intensive care. Most cases (99 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas11412,694
Interstate0090
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster0111,636
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster00435
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing1313
Under initial investigation000
Total12514,868

Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.
*notified from 8pm 14 January 2020 to 8pm 15 January 2021
**from 8pm 9 January 2021 to 8pm 15 January 2021

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested8,981
Found positive187
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 268,507
Found positive440
From 15 May 2020 to 12 January 2021:Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1079,623
Found positive182
Since 13 January 2021Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 12*618
Found positive0

* Testing previously carried out on day 10 is now carried out on day 12.