21 February 2021

NSW recorded no new locally acquired and three new overseas-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,960.

There were 13,586 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 16,422.

CasesCount
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 4,960
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) 56
Total tests carried out 4,914,092

While today marks 35 days with no reported locally acquired cases in NSW, with new cases being regularly detected among overseas arrivals, there is still a risk of COVID-19 spreading into the NSW community. It is critical that everyone continues to come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of symptoms.

Following the Australian Government announcement, Green Zone flights from New Zealand to NSW have resumed as of 12.01am today, Sunday, 21 February 2021, with entry conditions.

All passengers travelling from New Zealand on a green zone flight, who have been in Auckland (with exception of the airport for travel) for any period over the previous 14-days (from 7 February 2021), will be required to provide evidence at check-in of a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled flight departure. Routine pre-departure and on arrival screening will continue. These conditions will apply until 12.01am, 1 March 2021.

People who have been in locations identified by the NZ Government as places where transmission may have occurred are required to be tested and, depending on the nature of the exposure, will either have to isolate until a test result is negative or for the full 14 days following their potential exposure.

Three vaccination hubs will be operational in NSW from Monday morning, 22 February, at Liverpool, Royal Prince Alfred (RPA), and Westmead hospitals and in the first three weeks, 35,100 frontline workers will receive their first vaccination. They will receive their second vaccination three weeks after their first.

The initial three-week vaccination phase will see all hotel quarantine workers given the Pfizer vaccine – including all workers within quarantine hotels, those screening arrivals at the airport, health staff, cleaners, NSW Police officers and security guards. Healthcare workers who have the greatest exposure to potential COVID-19 patients will also be included in the first round of vaccinations, which will be rolled out progressively.

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.

NSW Health is treating 19 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.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

Likely source of infectionCases past 24 hours*Cases past 7 days**All cases
Overseas 3112,783
Interstate 0090
Locally acquired – linked to known case or cluster 001,642
Locally acquired – no links to known case or cluster00445
Locally acquired – investigation ongoing 000
Under initial investigation000
Total3114,960

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

*notified from 8pm 19 February 2021 to 8pm 20 February 2021
**from 8pm 13 February 2021 to 8pm 20 February 2021

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date

Since 29 March 2020Count
Symptomatic travellers tested 10,111
Found positive 195
Since 30 June 2020Count
Asymptomatic travellers screened at day 2 76,181
Found positive481
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*9,293
Found positive10

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

Today’s video update with Dr Jan Fizzell