Five people have died and 319 new COVID-19 cases, including four in Newcastle, have been recorded in NSW, as the nation’s top doctor calls for a circuit breaker to halt the virus’ spread.
At least 83 of the cases were in the community during their infectious period.
Investigations about the isolation status of 98 other cases continue.
Twenty-eight lives have been lost in the current outbreak after five people over the age of 60 died on Friday.
Three of those were linked to an outbreak on a ward in Liverpool Hospital.
There are 56 COVID-19 patients in NSW in intensive care, with 23 ventilated.
Four new cases – two women, one man and a female in her 20s – were reported in the Newcastle area, with two of those presenting themselves to John Hunter Hospital.
According to NSW Health, two of the four cases are linked to previously announced cases and the source for the other two remain under investigation.
“Anyone who attended the John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department on from 8.40pm on Thursday 5 August until 1.50am on Friday 6 August are considered close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days,” a spokesperson said.
“Also, anyone who visited Big W Raymond Terrace between 10.15am and 10.45am on Thursday 29 July is considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received.”
Two more were in Armidale LGA, which will enter a one-week lockdown from 5pm Saturday 7 August.
The stay-at-home order applies to all people in the council area since July 31.
“It is time that people woke up to the fact that we’re not just asking people to not go to other households. You are not expected to go to a party, you are not expected to go to a gathering,” NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said.
The state’s first goal is having 70 per cent of residents aged over 16 jabbed at least once.
That tally is at 45 per cent, having been 36 per cent a fortnight ago.
“For those who are fully vaccinated, we are to almost 22 per cent, and we are going up at about 5 per cent per week,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We’re not going to beat this virus until unless you get under journey with us.”
The daily case figures – 28 higher than Friday’s 291 cases – came after the nation’s top doctor, Paul Kelly, said the number of unlinked cases, new chains of transmission and geographical spread in NSW were “worrying signs”.
The state’s suppression of the virus, preventing much higher rates of illness and death, was pleasing but there was no sense it was “rapidly” heading to zero cases.
“There is clearly a need for a circuit-breaker,” the chief medical officer said on Friday evening.
Dr Kelly said he and his NSW colleagues had discussed options for advancing diagnosis speed, health order compliance and vaccination in key areas.
A multi-storey complex in Liverpool is being monitored by police and private security officers after 14 residents tested positive.
All other residents are deemed close contacts and must remain in isolation for a fortnight.
NSW Health is working to determine how many households are affected.
Almost a thousand contact tracers are working in NSW, Mr Hazzard said.
Lockdown restrictions for Greater Sydney and beyond are scheduled to lift on August 29 but the timeline is dependent on case and vaccination numbers.
The outbreak means all Year 12 trial exams in Sydney will be moved online.
Meanwhile, new figures show rising cases in Penrith (55) and the Inner West (38) over the past week.
Georges River, one of the eight council areas subjected to harsher restrictions than the rest of locked-down Sydney, has recorded 32 cases between July 30 and August 5.
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COVID-19 testing clinics
- Belmont Hospital Drive-through Clinic – 16 Croudace Bay Road, Belmont. Follow signs on campus
- Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital – Screening desk located inside of front entrance, Edith and Plath Street, Waratah
- Cessnock Hospital Drive-through Clinic – 24 View Street, Cessnock
- John Hunter Hospital – Adjacent to the Emergency Department, Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights
- Maitland Hospital – Health Services Unit, 560 High Street, Maitland
- Singleton Hospital Drive-through Clinic – Follow signs at main entrance, Dangar Road, Singleton
- University of Newcastle Drive-through Clinic – ICT car park, entry from University Drive, Callaghan
- McDonald Jones Stadium Laverty Pathology Clinic – McDonald Jones Stadium
- Adamstown Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic – 91 Victoria Street, Adamstown, enter carpark via Victoria Street. Please do not exit your car.
- Cessnock Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic – Cessnock Civic Indoor Sports Centre car park, 88 Mount View Road
- East Maitland 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic – Stockade Hill Carpark, Brisbane Street, East Maitland
- Gateshead Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic – Harold Knight Oval, Pacific Highway (Entry via Willow Road)
- Morisset Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology Drive-through Clinic – 40 Ourimbah Street, Morisset
- Nelson Bay Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic – 20 Aquatic Close, Nelson Bay
- South Maitland Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic – Maitland Showground, Blomfield Street (entry via Anzac Street), South Maitland
- Wallsend 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic – 173 Nelson Street, Wallsend
- Warners Bay 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic – Central Church, 290 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay
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