New South Wales has recorded 825 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, which is the highest daily number ever recorded in the country within a 24hr period.
At least 92 people were in isolation throughout their infectious period, with 38 in isolation for part of their infectious period and 48 infectious in the community. 149 are linked to a known case or cluster—116 are household contacts and 33 are close contacts—and the source of infection of 676 cases in under investigation.
NSW recorded 825 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/GiLWJcnJNz
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 21, 2021
38 of today’s locally acquired cases were detected in regional NSW. The state is particularly concerned about cases in the Wilcannia area in far west NSW, which according to 2016 Census data has an Indigenous Australian population of 61.2%. There are 12 cases in Wilcannia and two in the nearby town of Broken Hill.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that about 80% of today’s cases come from the eight local government areas of concern that now face harsher restrictions and a curfew.
NSW Police are investigating an outbreak linked to a gathering of 16 people at Maroubra. At least 11 attendees and close contacts from that event have tested positive. Hazzard said that up to 60 people linked to that party could be infected with COVID.
While a majority of people in the targeted local government areas are following rules, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says that a number of people who attended these gatherings have come from those areas.
NSW is also concerned with a funeral in western NSW that saw up to 350 people, some of which have since tested positive.
Fortunately, there have now been 5.7 million total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in NSW since 22 February 2021.
Stay tuned for more.
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
