12 December 2020

NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Six cases were reported in overseas travellers. This brings the total number of cases in NSW since the start of the pandemic to 4,450.

The Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control – South Australia) Order 2020 has been repealed, effective Sunday, 13 December.

This removes all border restrictions or requirements relating to people entering NSW from SA, including the need to fill out a declaration on arrival.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities)4,450
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases)55
Total tests carried out3,601,488

NSW Health is treating 83 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 the Special Health Accommodation.

There were 10,214 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 11,622 in the previous 24 hours.

Testing numbers are falling again, which is a concern. With restrictions eased, borders having reopened and Christmas just two weeks away, it is important that we do not drop our guard against the virus.

Please come forward for testing immediately even if you have only mild symptoms. Don’t wait until Monday to see if your runny nose or sore throat goes away.

NSW Health continues to urge people in the Batemans Bay and south-western Sydney areas to come forward for testing if they have any symptoms after fragments of the virus that causes COVID 19 were detected at the Batemans Bay and Liverpool sewage treatment plants.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage may reflect the presence of people who have recovered from COVID-19 such as people released from hotel isolation returning to their place of residence.

However, NSW Health remains 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.

NSW Health continues to urge travellers who may have travelled on the same public transport services as this case to come forward for testing. All affected services and carriage numbers can be found on the NSW Health website.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas 6362,490
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 000
Under initial investigation000
Total6364,450

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

*notified from 8pm 10 December 2020 to 8pm 11 December 2020
**from 8pm 5 December 2020 to 8pm 11 December 2020

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020 Count
Symptomatic travellers tested 7,820
Found positive 166
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 2 56,946
Found positive327
Since 15 May 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 1068,773
Found positive162