COVID-19 Alert – New mask and travel restrictions for western Sydney as NSW records 239 new cases – Thursday, 29 July 2021
New restrictions have been announced for the eight affected local government areas (LGAs) as NSW recorded 239 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Masks will be mandatory at all times outdoors and travel will be limited to 5km for those living in Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta LGAs — more below.
Of the new locally acquired cases, 113 are linked to a known case or cluster – 88 are household contacts and 25 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 126 cases is under investigation.
81 cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 22 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period. 66 cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 70 cases remains under investigation.
One new case was acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Three previously reported cases were removed following further investigation bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is now 8,342.
There have been 2,810 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.
Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of two COVID-19-related deaths. A woman in her 90s from south west Sydney died yesterday morning at Liverpool Hospital. A man in his 80s from south west Sydney died yesterday afternoon at Royal North Shore Hospital. NSW Health extends its sincere condolences to their family and friends.
These are the 12th and 13th COVID-19 related deaths during the current outbreak.
There are currently 182 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 54 people in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation.
There were a record 110,962 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 94,532.
Additional rules for Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta LGAs
From 12.01am on Friday, 30 July 2021, residents of the eight Local Government Areas of concern (Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta) will be subject to new exercise, mask and shopping rules. These rules will only be applied to any LGA that is determined to be of concern now and into the future:
- Exercise, outdoor recreation and singles bubble visits must be done within 5kms of the person’s home;
- Individuals cannot travel more than 5kms from home for shopping, unless the goods or services are not readily available in that area; and
- Masks must be worn at all times outside the home regardless of proximity to others.
Case details
Of the 239 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 104 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 58 are from Western Sydney LHD, 51 are from Sydney LHD, 14 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, five are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, three are from Northern Sydney LHD, and four are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD.
NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the sewage treatment plant in the regional area of Armidale. NSW Health is aware of a recently recovered COVID-19 case in this area, who acquired their infection elsewhere.
People who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may continue to shed virus fragments into the sewer system for several weeks. However, NSW Health still advises people to continue to be vigilant for symptoms.
The sewage treatment plant serves about 24,000 people in the Armidale area.
Get vaccinated
NSW Health administered 24,706 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 7,756 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 3,651,310 with 1,420,587 doses administered by NSW Health and 2,230,723 administered by the GP network and other providers1.
To book your COVID-19 vaccination, go to www.nsw.gov.au or visit the Australian Government’s Vaccine Eligibility Checker online.
Get tested
All western Sydney venues of concern can be found here.
NSW Health continues to urge everyone throughout NSW, to get tested immediately if they have even the mildest of symptoms and isolate until they receive a negative result. High rates of testing are critical to detecting transmission and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community.
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.
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