18 August 2021

NSW recorded 633 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 158 are linked to a known case or cluster – 145 are household contacts and 13 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 475 cases is under investigation.

Ninety-four cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 30 were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Sixty-two cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 447 cases remains under investigation.

One new case was acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Seven previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation and data reconciliation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 14,854.

Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of three people who had COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

A man in his 60s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. He was a patient in the geriatric ward at the hospital and is the ninth death linked to this outbreak.

Two men, both in their 70s and from western Sydney, died at Nepean Hospital.

NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.

This brings the number of COVID-related deaths to 60 since 16 June 2021, and the number of lives lost to 116 since the beginning of the pandemic.

There have been 9,280 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.   

There are currently 462 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 77 people in intensive care, 25 of whom require ventilation.

There were 102,749 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 151,767.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 14,854
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) 116
Total tests carried out 11,225,475
Total vaccinations administered in NSW5,353,364

NSW Health administered 36,175 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 9,279 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. 

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 5,353,364, with 1,932,738 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 3,420,626 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Monday 16 August 2021.

Of the 633 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 224 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District, 216 are from Western Sydney LHD, 54 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 52 are from Sydney LHD, 24 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 23 are from Western NSW LHD, 15 are from Hunter New England LHD, six are from Northern Sydney LHD, four are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, four are from Far West LHD  and 11 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Yamba, Bathurst and Orange sewage treatment plants in recent days. The Yamba sewage treatment plant serves about 6,500 people, the Bathurst sewage treatment plant serves about 36,600 people and the Orange sewage treatment plant serves around 40,000 people.

These detections are of particular concern and everyone in these areas are urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID‑19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

There are more than 440 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
Overseas  1103,388
Interstate 0091
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster 1581,3687,085
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster09487
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing 4751,7573,803
Under initial investigation000
Total 6343,14414,854

Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review. *notified from 8pm 16 August 2021 to 8pm 17 August 2021 
**from 8pm 11 August 2021 to 8pm 17 August 2021

COVID-19 vaccination update COVID-19 vaccination update

COVID-19 vaccination doses administered in NSWDoses past 24 hours*All doses
NSW Health – first doses23,9491,190,762
NSW Health – second doses 12,226741,976
Total36,175 1,932,738

*notified from 8pm 16 August 2021 to 8pm 17 August 2021

Video of today's press conference will be uploaded to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - press conferences and video updates.