New South Wales enjoys fifth day with ZERO new coronavirus cases

New South Wales has recorded a fifth consecutive day with no coronavirus cases, but health chiefs are concerned about low testing numbers.

Despite no new local transmissions, doctors fear the virus may be circulating undetected in areas of western Sydney – a concern ahead of the Australia Day weekend.   

There was one case recorded in a returned traveller, who is in hotel quarantine, while two previous cases have been excluded after further investigations. 

There were 17,431 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 12,213. 

Thursday’s testing numbers appeared lower after an IT issue delayed the inclusion of approximately 6,000 negative tests, which are now included in Friday’s numbers. 

Deputy chief health officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said ‘testing rates just aren’t high enough now’. 

‘We really need everyone’s help to come forward for testing even with the mildest symptoms,’ he said. 

‘Get tested the the day the symptoms occur, that will help prevent spread in the community.’  

NSW Health’s sewage surveillance program has recently detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at sewage treatment plants in Camellia and Auburn. 

These catchments take in sewage from almost 180,000 people from 33 suburbs such as Parramatta, Bankstown, Strathfield, Homebush West, Lidcombe and Sydney Olympic Park.  

‘While this likely reflects known recent confirmed cases in these areas, everyone living or working there to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate immediately if they appear,’ Dr McAnulty said. 

More to follow.