NSW latest coronavirus data as at 23 November

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

Five cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine. A previously reported case has been excluded after further investigation. This brings the total number of cases in NSW to 4,353 since the start of the pandemic.

There were 7,836 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 12,012 in the previous 24 hours.

NSW Health is treating 78 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases, 97 per cent, are being treated by NSW Health in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

In an important development, NSW Health can today advise that the recent Moss Vale cluster, the source of which was until now unknown, is connected to a previously reported cluster in Liverpool, after extensive investigations revealed a ‘missing link’ between the two.

Intensive work involving epidemiological and genomic analysis and antibody testing indicate that the five cases in the Moss Vale cluster and the 13 cases in the Liverpool private clinic cluster are linked by an additional two people who had contact with both clusters. Genomic analysis also shows that the viral RNA across the Liverpool and Moss Vale cases is identical.

This development means that the five cases from Moss Vale are now included in the Liverpool private clinic cluster, along with the additional two people who bring the number of infected people in this cluster to 20. The source of this cluster remains locally acquired, with no links to known cases or clusters.

The last unlinked case of COVID-19 in NSW was a person who reported onset of illness on 24 October and is associated with the Hoxton Park cluster of nine additional cases.

NSW Health has provided this information to Queensland Health to assist them in their considerations regarding border arrangements.

We would like to thank the people involved in this investigation for cooperating so fully with our epidemiological efforts, including providing additional samples for analysis. This has proved immensely helpful in our efforts to trace the additional cases and to link the two clusters.

With the NSW-Victoria border reopening today, and a range of easing of restrictions on outdoor gatherings coming into effect, continued vigilance in the fight against COVID-19 remains important.

NSW Health continues to ask people arriving in NSW from South Australia, by whatever mode of transport, to complete a declaration form to make it easier to check if they have visited any of the areas or venues of concern identified by the South Australian authorities and provide contact details if follow-up is required. This also applies to people arriving in NSW who have been in South Australia within the past 14 days.

Anyone who has been in South Australia since Friday 6 November should regularly monitor the SA Health alert page for areas or venues of concern and follow the advice of SA Health. NSW residents are advised to defer non-essential travel to Adelaide, while people from Adelaide should defer non-essential travel to NSW.

From today, electronic registration will be mandatory in hospitality venues. QR codes are one example of electronic registration.

A free QR code check in option is available from Service NSW for businesses and organisations that register as COVID Safe.

While there have been no new locally acquired cases in NSW for the past 16 days, we continue to encourage people to get tested, even if they display only the mildest symptoms, such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, or fever. Any of these symptoms could signal a COVID-19 infection.

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. Most people receive their test results within 24 hours.

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.

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 21 November 2020 to 8pm 22 November 2020

**from 8pm 16 November 2020 to 8pm 22 November 2020

Returned travellers in hotel quarantine to date