NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
One new case was acquired overseas to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,230.
There were 8,568 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 9,986.
NSW Health administered 2,933 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 553,275, with 191,745 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 361,530 administered by Commonwealth Government providers, including GPs, to 11.59pm on Thursday 22 April.
Western Australia Health notified the public of a number of new close and casual contact venues yesterday (Friday 23 April). A full list of all venues of concern and associated public health advice is on the Western Australia website. Anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel areas since 17 April should check the website regularly for updates.
People arriving in Sydney from Western Australia from 12.01am today (Saturday 24 April) must complete a declaration which confirms they have not attended a venue of concern. These declaration forms are available on the Service NSW website.
If you have attended a close contact venue as listed on the WA Health website, you should not enter NSW. If you have attended any of the close or casual contact venues as listed on the website and you are already in NSW, you should immediately self-isolate and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.
Under the Public Health Order, people who have arrived in NSW since 12.01am this morning must comply with the same stay at home restrictions that apply to the Perth and Peel regions, regardless of their current location.
Victoria Health has also announced venues of concern associated with the Western Australian outbreak. If you have been to Melbourne recently, please visit the Victoria Health website and, if you were at these places at the relevant times, follow the associated health advice.
NSW Health has been notified that fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in the sewage systems at Allambie Heights and Merimbula. The Allambie Heights sewage network serves about 83,400 people in the Northern Head catchment, and includes the suburbs of Allambie Heights, Balgowlah, Curl Curl, North Curl Curl, North Manly, Freshwater, Collaroy, Collaroy Plateau, Narrabeen, Wheeler Heights, Oxford Falls, Dee Why, Cromer, Beacon Hill, Narraweena, Brookvale, Frenchs Forest. Merimbula sewage treatment plant serves about 15,000 people on the South Coast.
These positive sewage results may indicate the presence of people who have recently recovered from COVID-19, as they can continue to shed fragments of the virus for several weeks after recovery.
However, NSW Health is concerned that they could signal undetected cases in the community, and asks people in these areas to be alert for any cold-like symptoms that could signal COVID‑19, including sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever or headache. If symptoms appear, please isolate and get tested immediately, and remain isolated until a negative result is received.
NSW Health urges everyone around the state to continue to take practical measures to stay COVID-safe. This includes always using QR codes to check in to venues, staying home and getting tested for COVID‑19 if unwell, and practising good hand hygiene.
There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic, visit: the testing clinics webpage or contact your GP.
NSW Health can advise that all of the 15 Port Botany workers who boarded the Inge Kosan were tested and all have returned negative COVID-19 PCR results. All have also reported using personal protective equipment, and no crew members from the Inge Kosan disembarked the ship during its time in Sydney.
Investigations are also continuing into how COVID-19 transmission occurred between returned travellers who entered Australia on 3 April on the same flight and subsequently stayed in adjacent rooms while in hotel quarantine at the Mercure Hotel on George Street in Sydney's CBD. The investigation has not identified any further cases of transmission to date.
NSW Health is treating 91 COVID-19 cases, one of whom is in intensive care and being ventilated. Most (98 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
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Note: Case counts reported for a particular day may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.
*notified from 8pm 22 April 2021 to 8pm 23 April 2021 **from 8pm 17 April 2021 to 8pm 23 April 2021
* Testing previously carried out on day 10 is now carried out on day 12.
*notified from 8pm 22 April 2021 to 8pm 23 April 2021
Note: NSW Health’s vaccination clinics generally operate Monday to Friday. Therefore, there may be limited or no vaccines administered on weekend days and public holidays due to planned closures.