15 March 2021

​NSW recorded one locally acquired case of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. This was the person announced yesterday who works as a security guard at Sydney quarantine hotels.

Three new cases were acquired overseas, and one overseas case reported last week was found to be an old infection following further investigation.

This brings the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,051.

There were 8,199 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 9,269.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities)5,051
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases)56
Total tests carried out5,181,612

While the source of the new case’s infection is still under investigation, genomic sequencing results received last night show a match to the viral strain of a COVID-positive returned traveller who was in the Softitel Wentworth quarantine hotel while infectious.

The genome sequencing results indicate the strain found in the hotel quarantine guest and security guard is the more transmissible B1.1.7 variant of the virus (also known as the UK variant).

Testing continues on close contacts of the case, who remains asymptomatic. The man’s household contacts have all tested negative, and will continue to self-isolate for 14 days.

Anyone who visited any of the following venues at the listed times are close contacts who should immediately be tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:

​Suburb
​Venue
​Address
​Date and time
​Beverly Hills
​Pancakes on the Rocks
​507 King Georges Road
Saturday 13 March
10:45am - 12pm

Anyone who was a customer any of the following venues at the listed times is a casual contact who should monitor for symptoms, and if they appear, immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received. If symptoms reappear, they should be tested again.

​Suburb
​Venue
​Address
​Date and time
​Bexley North
​Bexley Aquatic Centre
​98C Preddys Road
Saturday 13 March
9am - 9:30am
​Hurstville
​Hudson's Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital
​37 Gloucester Road
​Monday 8 March
8:30am - 9am
​​Hurstville
​Hudson's Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital
​37 Gloucester Road
​Tuesday 9 March
8:30am - 9am
​​Hurstville
​Hudson's Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital
​37 Gloucester Road
​Wednesday 10 March
8:30am - 9am
​​Hurstville
​Coles, Hurstville Station
​225 Forest Road
Wednesday 10 March
8pm - 9pm
​​Hurstville
​Hudson's Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital
​37 Gloucester Road
​Thursday 11 March
8:30am - 9am
​​Hurstville
​Hudson's Coffee Shop, Hurstville Private Hospital
​37 Gloucester Road
​Friday 12 March
8:30am - 9am
​Sydney
​Dae Jang Kum Korean restaurant
​35 Goulburn Street
Saturday 13 March
12:15am - 12:20am
​Sydney
​7 Eleven
​Capital Square, George Street
Saturday 13 March
12:20am - 12:25am

Anyone who travelled on the following train services at the time and date indicated is a casual contact who should monitor for symptoms, and if they appear immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. If symptoms reappear, get tested and isolate again.

Route​
​Date and time
​T4 line, Hurstville to Central
Friday 12 March
Departing Hurstville at 6pm and arriving Central at 6:30pm
​T4 line, Central to Hurstville
​Friday 12 March
Departing Central at 7am and arriving Hurstville at 7:30am

NSW Health continues to remind anyone who has arrived from Queensland since Thursday, 11 March to check the Queensland Health website. Anyone who has been to any of the listed venues of concern must immediately self-isolate and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553 for further instructions.

Anyone who has entered NSW from Greater Brisbane (Brisbane, plus Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Redland) since 11 March and who has not attended any of the venues of concern should be monitoring for symptoms. If symptoms occur, get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received.

In addition, anyone who has been in Greater Brisbane since 11 March should avoid non-essential visits to hospitals and residential aged care facilities until further notice.

The emergence of these new cases underscores the need for continued community vigilance for any signs and symptoms that could be COVID-19. It is critical that everyone continues to practise COVID-safe behaviours and that people come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of cold-like symptoms.

NSW Health is treating 47 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (89 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.

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 COVID-19 clinics or contact your GP.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas3302,873
Interstate0090
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster001,641
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster00446
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing111
Under initial investigation000
Total4315,051

Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.

* notified from 8pm 13 March 2021 to 8pm 14 March 2021
** from 8 March 2021 to 8pm 14 March 2021

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested10,778
Found positive206
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 283,844
Found positive530
From 15 May 2020 to 12 January 2021Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1079,623
Found positive182
Since 13 January 2021Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 12*15,718
Found positive15

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


Latest video update

 

Press conference - 15 March 2021