12 August 2020

Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,726.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (incl. interstate residents in NSW health care facilities)3,726
Deaths (in NSW ​​from confirmed cases)52
Total tests carried out1,727,182

There were 20,104 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 13,257 in the previous 24 hours. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, maintaining high rates of testing is vital at this time, and NSW Health urges anyone with even the mildest symptoms to come forward for testing.

Of the 18 new cases reported to 8.00pm last night:

  • 13 were locally acquired and linked to known cases
  • one is a returned traveller from overseas
  • two were locally acquired, without a known source
  • two were acquired in Victoria

NSW residents returning from Victoria will have their hotel quarantine fee waived for the next month to ease the financial burden on returnees.

The charge will be waived retrospectively and apply to NSW residents already in hotel quarantine after travelling from Victoria.

A second health care worker at Hornsby Hospital has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but did not work while infectious.

Close and casual contacts have been instructed to isolate, monitor and test for COVID-19 should any symptoms present.

Staff who had contact with the first positive case have been self-isolating for 14 days and tested for COVID-19. There is no impact on the services being provided at the hospital’s Emergency Department.

Hornsby Hospital has a clinic available for people who require testing for COVID-19. For anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and get tested.

A third confirmed COVID-19 case has been identified at Our Lady of Mercy College. Because this new case is not directly linked to the previous two cases, the source of the infection is unknown

Due to the concern about the virus spreading within the school, NSW Health and the school agreed to close the high school for 14 days to allow for contact tracing and to reduce the risk of the virus spreading at the school.

Students and staff have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days, monitor their health and get tested for COVID-19. Students and staff will return to onsite learning on Monday 24 August.

Parramatta Public School will not be open for on-site learning today after a student tested positive to COVID-19. The school is working closely with NSW Health to identify and notify close contacts. Students will continue to be supported through existing learning from home arrangements while the school is thoroughly cleaned.

It was confirmed yesterday that two people who were infectious with COVID-19 attended the Wildginger restaurant in Huskisson on Saturday, 8 August 2020 from 7.45pm to 10.30pm. Patrons and staff who were at the venue during this time must self-isolate for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.

Anyone who attended the following venues during the dates and times below are advised to monitor for symptoms, and if symptoms present, however mild, isolate and get tested:

  • Rhodes Ikea on 8 August, between 1:20pm -2:20pm
  • Parramatta Westfield on 5 August between 4pm-5:30pm and 8 August between 12pm – 1pm
  • Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club from 5pm on 7 August to 1:30am on 8 August
  • Castle Towers Shopping Centre on 7 August between 3:30pm – 5pm
  • Baby Bunting, Penrith on Saturday 8 August between 1.15pm - 1.45pm

For a list of locations associated with known cases and advice on testing and isolation, see NSW Government - Latest new and updates.

Of the known clusters, there are now:

  • 116 cases linked to Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster
  • 68 cases linked to the funeral events in Bankstown and surrounding suburbs cluster
  • 11 cases linked to the Batemans Bay Soldiers’ Club.
  • 19 cases linked to the Tangara School Cherrybrook cluster

There are currently 133 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health. There are eight COVID 19 patients in intensive care and seven are ventilated. 87 per cent of cases being treated by NSW Health are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • If you are unwell, stay in, get tested and isolate.
  • Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
  • Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
  • Wear a mask in situations where you cannot physically distance.

See a full list of COVID-19 testing clinics, or people can visit their GP.

Some cases in recent days have been acquired in Victoria. People who have arrived from Victoria must isolate for 14 days, unless special exemptions apply. Everyone should get tested immediately should symptoms occur. Anyone directed to undertake a 14-day self-isolation period must stay in isolation for the full time, even if they test negative. Early testing may not detect an infection, and release from self-isolation based on a negative test could allow an infectious person to infect others in the community. Most people who are infected and develop symptoms will do so within 14 days of exposure.

Confirmed cases to date

By likely source of infectionCount
Overseas2,045
Interstate acquired88
Locally acquired – co​ntact of a confirmed case and/or in a known cluster1,216
Locally acquired – contact not identified377
Under investigation0
Total3,726

Counts reported for a particular day may vary over time with ongoing enhanced surveillance activities.

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested4,410
Found positive​120
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travell​ers screened at a day 212,505
Found positive74
Since 15 May 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at a day 1026,117
Found positive115