04 December 2020

NSW recorded one new case of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The case, a hotel quarantine worker, was publicly disclosed yesterday and is recorded in today’s numbers.

Five cases were also reported in overseas travellers. This brings the total number of cases in NSW to 4,414 since the start of the pandemic.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (incl. interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 4,414
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) 55
Total tests carried out 3,517,128

There were 11,128 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 13,306 in the previous 24 hours.

NSW Health is treating 77 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (95 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in Special Health Accommodation.

The source of the case in the hotel quarantine worker remains under investigation. Urgent genome sequencing is underway to help determine whether this infection was acquired through work at the hotel quarantine facility or from elsewhere in the community. Results are expected in the next 24 hours.

Testing of close contacts of the case is continuing. There have been no further positive results so far. After further investigation, some staff at the Novotel Hotel who worked on 27 November are being tested and placed in isolation. This is in addition those who have already been identified as working on the 28, 29 or 30 November.

The case travelled on a number of train and light rail services between 27 and 30 November, including trains between Minto and Lidcombe and Lidcombe and Central, and light rail between Central and Capitol Square and Central and Convention. Details of routes and times are available on NSW Government - Latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW.

People who travelled on the below services and who were or may have been in the same carriage on the train as the case are considered close contacts and should immediately get tested and self-isolate until further notice.

People who know they were not in the same carriage should get tested and self-isolate until a negative test result is received:

  • Friday 27 November – T8 Line departing Minto platform 1 at 05:03 hours and arriving Glenfield platform 1 at 05:12 hours, seventh car of the train. T2 Line departing Glenfield platform 2 and arriving Lidcombe arriving platform 3 at 05:50 hours, seventh car of the train.
  • Friday 27 November – T2 Line departing Central platform 19 at 16:19 hours and arriving Lidcombe platform 4 at 16:48 hours, second car of the train.
  • Saturday 28 November – T1 Line departing Central platform 18 at 15:41 hours and arriving Strathfield platform 8 at 16:13 hours, first car of train. T1 Line departing Strathfield platform 8 and arriving Lidcombe arriving platform 4 at 16:30 hours, first or second car of the train.
  • Sunday 29 November – T1 Line departing Central platform 18 at 17:10 hours and arriving Lidcombe platform 4 at 17:42 hours, first car of the train.
  • Monday 30 November – T1 Line departing Lidcombe platform 1 at 06:15 hours and arriving Central platform 16 at 06:35 hours, seventh car of the train.
  • Monday 30 November – T8 Line departing Central platform 23 at 15:29 hours and arriving at Minto platform 2 at 16:19 hours, seventh car of the train.

People who travelled on the Light Rail line at the time specified on Latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW are advised to get tested immediately and self-isolate, until a negative test result is received. They should monitor for symptoms and re-test if they develop.

Additionally, anyone living in the Minto and Lidcombe areas who is feeling unwell – no matter how mild the symptoms – is urged to come forward immediately for testing, and to isolate until a negative result is received.

Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 were detected earlier in the week in recent samples from the sewerage system that drains parts of Riverstone, Vineyard, Marsden Park, Shanes Park, Quakers Hill, Oakville, Box Hill, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, Nelson, Schofields and Colebee.

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.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away – don’t delay.
  • 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 when using public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in shops, places of worship and other places where you can’t physically distance. When taking taxis or rideshares, commuters should also sit in the back.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas 5452,453
Interstate 0090
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster 001,437
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster00433
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing 111
Under initial investigation000
Total6464,414

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

*notified from 8pm 2 December 2020 to 8pm 3 December 2020
**from 8pm 27 November 2020 to 8pm 3 December 2020

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested 7,491
Found positive 163
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 2 53,763
Found positive301
Since 15 May 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1065,602
Found positive159