Update
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW health have reported that of the 485 new COVID cases reported, 10 are believed to be the Omicron variant and more are expected as a result of genomic testing.
This brings the total of the Omicron variant in NSW to 55. To date just one Omicron case has been admitted to hospital.
Two men from Sydney have died in the last 24 hours. Both men were over 70 and neither were vaccinated. NSW Health have expressed condolences to their families.
The people of Newcastle have been advised it is likely a person with the Omicron variant visited The Argyle House nightclub on Wednesday, December 9 between 9pm and 3am Thursday, December 10. anyone who attended the nightclub have been advised to get tested and isolate.
"NSW Health is concerned about the increased transmission taking place in larger social venues such as these and we urge people not to attend social functions if they have any symptoms, even mild," a spokesperson communicated via Facebook.
The new Coronavirus variant has been identified in international arrivals to NSW from southern Africa as well as travelers from other countries. NSW Health believe these people have likely shared their infections with other passengers.
In regional news, ongoing sewage surveillance has detected fragments of the virus in Wellington, South-West Rocks, Raymond Terrace and Boulder Bay, where there are no known cases. Everyone who lives in or has been to these areas and display symptoms are urged to be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Here is the break down of cases reported in the 24-hours until 8pm, Saturday night.
- 104 cases are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD)
- 90 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD
- 81 are from South Western Sydney LHD
- 58 are from Sydney LHD
- 38 are from Northern Sydney LHD
- 30 are from Northern NSW LHD
- 21 are from the Central Coast LHD
- 13 are from the Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
- 12 are from the Hunter New England LHD
- 12 are from the Western NSW LHD
- 10 are from the Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
- Eight are from the Murrumbidgee LHD
- Five are from the Mid North Coast LHD
- Three are yet to be assigned to an LHD
Find out about the vaccine rollout for five to 11-year-olds in Australia in the video below.
Earlier
There were 485 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Saturday in the period to 8pm as the statewide vaccination rate creeps another 0.01 per cent closer to 95 per cent first dose administered.
There were 90,804 tests administered in the same reporting period, according to NSW health.
There are 156 cases in hospitals and 23 in intensive care units across NSW. Two deaths were reported.
In vaccination rates, 94.8 per cent of the NSW population aged 16 and over have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 93.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Of the younger population, 81.4 per cent of 12 to 15 year-olds have had their first vaccine and 77.7 per cent of the teens have received both.
An update with regions affected and the number of Omicron cases is expected later on Sunday.