A deep sigh for NSW as the state has recorded 105 local cases of COVID-19 today.
Speaking at today’s daily press conference, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed that the state has recorded 105 cases in the 24 hours since 8pm last night.
27 were infectious while in the community, 69 were in isolation for all of their infectious period and 7 were in isolation for part of their infectious period. 66 are linked to a known case or cluster—55 are household contacts and 11 are close contacts—and the source of infection for 39 cases remains under investigation. Four additional cases were acquired overseas.
“We don’t expect to see that number shift for the next few days,” added Premier Berejiklian.
“We know this Delta variant is difficult, it’s like nothing we’ve dealt with before.”
NSW recorded 105 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/TreDZgTcVE
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 18, 2021
TikTok comedian John-Bernard Kairouz accurately predicted today’s 105 cases, making it the fifth time in a row he has done so. In the words of Cardi B: “that’s weird, that’s suspicious.”
There have been 6,753 total cases since the 25th of January, 2020, and 1,242 locally acquired cases since the Bondi cluster was first reported on the 16th of June, 2021.
With Eid ad-Adha held later this month, NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant shared her support for the Muslim Australian community celebrating the religious period.
“We ask that prayers are only performed in your house and please do not have people visiting your home. I’m sure there will be a range of technology employed to allow you to celebrate in this time.”
76 cases are in southwest Sydney, but Dr. Chant says we are seeing cases across Metropolitan Sydney. NSW Health has found traces of COVID-19 in the Wollongong sewer system although there is currently no identified case in the region. NSW Health is urging everyone in the Wollongong, Western Sydney, Fairfield, Canterbury/Bankstown, and Liverpool areas to get tested.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys confirmed that there had been 240 personal infringement notices issued right across the state. 43 police districts were involved, and almost a dozen of notices were issued in Newcastle and a “similar number” in Central Sydney.
Today’s cases come in light of new lockdown restrictions in NSW announced yesterday. They included shutdowns for all non-critical retail services and construction sites and fines for employers who force staff to work in an office environment when they can work from home. Some of these new rules took effect last night while others will take effect at 12:01am on Monday and Wednesday respectively. Learn more about those restrictions here.
NSW saw 66,671 people come forward for testing over the last 24 hours. The state’s Department of Health also administered 16,877 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, bringing the total jabs in the state to 3,031,331. 76 people are in hospital with 18 in ICU and 7 requiring ventilation.
