COVID-19 Update – 283 of 753 new cases are in western Sydney, Blacktown congratulated for vaccination efforts – Tuesday, 24 August 2021

NSW recorded 753 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 134 are linked to a known case or cluster – 108 are household contacts and 26 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 619 cases is under investigation.

73 cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 22 were in isolation for part of their infectious period. 49 cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 609 cases remains under investigation.

Of the 753 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 283 are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 233 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 73 are from Sydney LHD, 41 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 36 are from Western NSW, 36 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 19 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 14 are from Far West LHD, three are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD,  three are from Central Coast LHD, one is from Hunter New England LHD, and 11 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

We’ve seen Blacktown go from one of the lowest rates of vaccination to the highest in the state. Thank you to the people from Blacktown for coming forward and getting the jab.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Two new cases were acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night and 10 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 19,356.

There have been 13,765 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.  

There are currently 608 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 107 people in intensive care, 34 of whom require ventilation.

There were 138,472 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 311,083.

Get vaccinated

NSW Health administered 48,761 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 10,568 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. 

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 6,019,355, with 2,207,712 doses administered by NSW Health and 3,811,643 administered by the GP network.

The Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre is vaccinating anyone aged 16-39 from a local government area of concern. There are 120,000 Pfizer doses at Qudos Bank Arena next week alone and bookings are open now. Book here.

Get tested

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 40 testing clinics in western Sydney and over 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit here or contact your GP.

To book your COVID-19 vaccination, visit nsw.gov.au.