NSW encouraged to continue high rates of testing

NSW has maintained high rates of testing, with 12,212 people tested yesterday.

Eight new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours; three were a family group in hotel quarantine, one was a close contact of a confirmed case and three were locally acquired in the Waverley and Penrith local government areas. 

One case was an overseas traveller who quarantined in Brisbane and subsequently flew to Sydney on 12 May on Qantas flight QF537, developing symptoms after the 14-day quarantine period. Contract tracing is underway for close contact passengers on this flight.

NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, reiterated the importance of those living in areas of increased testing and surveillance such as the Waverly and Penrith LGAs to remain vigilant and get tested with even mild symptoms.

“My main group of concern is the one that I spend the most time talking about, which is my locally acquired where I can’t find a source. That causes me concern because it means that there’s unrecognised strains of transmission”, Dr Chant said.

103 people are currently being treated by NSW Health, with 79 percent of cases in non-acute, out of hospital care. Seven people are being treated in ICU with five of those on ventilators.