NSW latest Covid-19 update as at 21 July

NSW recorded 110 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 54 are linked to a known case or cluster - 40 are household contacts and 14 are close contacts - and the source of infection for 56 cases is under investigation.

Thirty-seven cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 17 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. Forty-three cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 13 cases remains under investigation.

Two new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. To correct an earlier error in the total case count, one case has been added, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 7,044.

There have been 1,528 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

There are currently 106 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 23 people in intensive care, 11 of whom require ventilation.

There were a record 83,477 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 62,860.

NSW Health thanks the community for coming forward for testing. High testing numbers are vital in detecting cases of COVID-19 in order to prevent further transmission, and to keep our friends and families safe.

NSW Health administered 23,696 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 8,345 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 3,160,228 with 1,235,315 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,924,913 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Monday 19 July 2021.

Of the 110 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 50 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 29 are from Western Sydney LHD, 12 are from Sydney LHD, 11 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, six are from Northern Sydney LHD, one is from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, and one is from Western NSW LHD.

To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions are now in place for the Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council, and Cabonne Shire Council areas until 12.01am Wednesday July 28.

Stay-at-home orders apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after Saturday July 17. Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason. Schools will remain open, under Level 3 restrictions, and all staff and students are still expected to attend. COVID-19 testing clinics are open at Bathurst, Orange, Parkes, Blayney and Molong.

Following an amendment to the Order this morning, people in these three Council Areas cannot have visitors in their home. This applies to all social visits from those outside your household, including family and friends.

People still can have one visitor at one time to fulfil carers' responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.

NSW Health is extending its surveillance testing program to health and aged care workers who live in the Canterbury Bankstown Local Government Area (LGA).

From Friday 23 July, a person who lives in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA and who works in health or aged care can only work outside of the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA if the person has been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours. The person must also have evidence of the test available to their employer, the occupier of premises in which the person works or a police officer on request.

These workers include all those who work in aged care facilities and all those who provide health services or ancillary or support services, including those such as cleaners, cooks, and security providers.

Due to the recent cases of community transmission in South Australia, anyone who has arrived in NSW since 5.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 20 July) and has been in South Australia in the past 14 days will now be required to complete a declaration on entry and follow the stay-at-home rules and only leave home with a reasonable excuse. All other public health restrictions in place in NSW must continue to be complied with.

The declaration form is available on the Service NSW website, and can be completed in the 24-hour period before entering NSW or on arrival. The information gathered from travel declarations is vital to allow NSW Health to contact travellers if necessary.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID‑19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

There are more than 400 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit: COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.

Likely source of confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW

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

*notified from 8pm 19 July 2021 to 8pm 20 July 2021 

**from 8pm 14 July 2021 to 8pm 20 July 2021

COVID-19 vaccination update

*notified from 8pm 19 July 2021 to 8pm 20 July 2021 

Video of today's press conference will be uploaded to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - press conferences and video updates.