COVID-19 Update – Home quarantine pilot in NSW, 1,284 new cases, 322 in western Sydney – Friday, 17 September 2021

NSW recorded 1,284 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Two cases were acquired overseas, and 16 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 49,422.

Of the 1,284 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 429 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 322 are from Western Sydney LHD, 141 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 129 are from Sydney LHD, 60 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 36 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 36 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 27 are from Central Coast LHD, 24 are from Hunter New England LHD, 17 are from Southern NSW LHD, 15 are from Western NSW LHD, five are from Far West LHD, one is from Murrumbidgee LHD, 11 are in correctional settings and 31 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

There have been 43,779 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.  

There are currently 1,245 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 228 people in intensive care, 112 of whom require ventilation.

There were 155,334 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 129,266.

12 deaths

Sadly, NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 12 people with COVID-19 – six men and six women.

Two of these people were in their 20s, three people were in their 50s, one person was in their 60s, two people were in their 70s, three people were in their 80s, and one person was in their 90s.

Seven of the 12 people who died were not vaccinated, two people had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and three people were fully vaccinated.

A woman in her 20s from western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital. She had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions.

A woman in her 20s died at Gosford Hospital. She was not vaccinated. She was a resident of the Life Without Barriers group home in Wyong, where she acquired her infection.

Three people who died were residents of aged care facilities in Dubbo. A woman in her 80s died at the Holy Spirit aged care facility. She was fully vaccinated and is the first death linked to an outbreak at this facility.

A woman in her 90s, who was fully vaccinated, and a man in his 80s, who was partially vaccinated, died at St Mary’s Villa aged care facility in Dubbo. There have now been three deaths associated with an outbreak at this facility.

Two people from western Sydney – a man in his 50s and a woman in her 80s – died at their homes and their COVID-19 infections were diagnosed following their deaths. Neither person was vaccinated.

NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.

Pilot for home quarantine

NSW will launch a home quarantine pilot for fully vaccinated people next month, as NSW transitions to opening international borders.

More to come.

Get vaccinated

NSW Health administered 32,804 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 4,776 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park and 6,106 at Qudos Bank Arena.

Across NSW, 80.7 per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 49.6 per cent are fully vaccinated to 11:59pm on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 8,603,460 with 3,150,963 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 5,452,497 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

Did you have your first dose of AstraZeneca more than 4 weeks ago? You can get your second dose at Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre TODAY- regardless of where you got your first dose.

Get double dosed sooner for better protection! Book here or just show turn up.

Please use the following links to book your vaccination:

AstraZeneca vaccinations for ANYONE aged over 18 at Qudos Bank Arena

All other vaccinations

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 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 clinics or contact your GP.