Covid Australia: NSW records 235 cases as returnees from southern Africa urged to contact NSW Health

New South Wales records 235 new infections as travellers returning from southern Africa are urged to contact NSW health as concern rises over heavily mutated Covid variant Omicron

  • NSW recorded 235 Covid cases, and no further virus-related deaths on Saturday
  • NSW Health says no cases of the Omicron strain have been identified in the state
  • Returnees from southern Africa in the last 14 days are being urged to get tested  
  • Travellers who have been in southern Africa are also asked to notify authorities 


NSW has added 235 new local infections to its COVID-19 caseload as authorities begin monitoring overseas arrivals for signs of the new and heavily mutated Omicron variant.

The state’s hospitals continue to treat 174 coronavirus patients, 26 of them in intensive care units and 10 requiring ventilation.

There were no further virus-related deaths reported on Saturday.

NSW has added 235 new local infections to its COVID-19 caseload, and there were no further virus-related deaths reported on Saturday (Pictured: Pedestrians along George Street in Sydney’s CBD)

Health officials say Covid testers processed more than 62,000 results in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.

NSW is now 94.5 per cent single-dose immunised for everyone aged 16 or over, while 92.3 per cent of the same group are fully vaccinated.

Of the 12-15-year age group, 81.2 per cent have received one jab and 76.2 per cent both.

NSW is now 94.5 per cent single-dose immunised for everyone aged 16 or over, while 92.3 per cent of the same group are fully vaccinated (Pictured: Young woman has a Covid-19 vaccine dose administered)

NSW is now 94.5 per cent single-dose immunised for everyone aged 16 or over, while 92.3 per cent of the same group are fully vaccinated (Pictured: Young woman has a Covid-19 vaccine dose administered)

Authorities are beginning to monitor overseas arrivals for signs of the new and heavily mutated Omicron variant (Pictured: Travellers arrive at Sydney Airport)

Authorities are beginning to monitor overseas arrivals for signs of the new and heavily mutated Omicron variant (Pictured: Travellers arrive at Sydney Airport)

Should NSW reach its goal of 95 per cent full coverage by December 15, an early easing of restrictions will trigger, according to the state’s roadmap out of lockdown.

NSW Health says no cases of the Omicron strain have been identified in the state.

However travellers who have been in southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the 14 days before arriving are being urged to get tested.

Travellers who have been in southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the 14 days before arriving are being urged to get tested (Pictured: A man has a Covid-19 test at Sydney Airport)

Travellers who have been in southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the 14 days before arriving are being urged to get tested (Pictured: A man has a Covid-19 test at Sydney Airport)

Anyone sharing a household with arrivals from the same countries should also isolate until further notice.

Travellers who have been in southern Africa are asked to notify authorities, with those failing to likely to be contacted by text message and reminded of their testing requirements.

Meanwhile, NSW residents have been given an extra two vouchers to spend on food and entertainment.

They are the latest instalment in the government’s Dine and Discover program, with each adult in NSW granted an additional $25 to spend on dining out and $25 to spend on entertainment.

Travellers who have been in southern Africa are asked to notify authorities, with those failing to likely to be contacted by text message and reminded of their testing requirements (Pictured: Travellers arriving at Sydney Airport)

 Travellers who have been in southern Africa are asked to notify authorities, with those failing to likely to be contacted by text message and reminded of their testing requirements (Pictured: Travellers arriving at Sydney Airport) 

More than $276 million worth of vouchers have already been spent by 4.8 million customers across the state during the pandemic, proving to be a lifeline for 15,000 businesses.

Changes were also made on Thursday to isolation requirements for close contacts at schools, with students no longer having to isolate for a full seven days.

Those who are close contacts of a positive case will be required to get a PCR test as soon as possible after being notified of exposure.

If negative, they may return to school immediately, so long as they provide negative Rapid Antigen Home Test results for the next seven days.

Treasurer Matt Kean says the government is ‘working through’ whether parents will have to pay for the rapid antigen testing and ‘will be looking to make an announcement on that shortly’.

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