New South Wales records just ONE new coronavirus case out of 32,000 tests – despite 'paranoid' Gladys Berejiklian warning of hidden community infections
- New South Wales has reported just one new coronavirus case overnight
- The new case is a close contact of a previously identified case and self isolated
- There is no threat to the public because the person isolated before symptoms
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian remains on high alert that virus is in community
New South Wales has reported just one new coronavirus case overnight despite conducting 32,580 tests.
The person is a close contact of a previously identified case linked to Hornsby Hospital and is not considered a threat to the public.
When the person heard that they had come into contact with a known COVID-19 case, they immediately went into isolation.
New South Wales Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant on Friday said the person went into self imposed quarantine prior to developing symptoms.
Therefore, the latest patient has not been out in public since becoming infectious and no further contact tracing will be undertaken.
In spite of the low diagnosis rate in New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian is still concerned that the virus could be circulating within the community. Pictured: Cleaner sanitising surfaces in the rain in Melbourne
New South Wales has reported just one new coronavirus case overnight despite conducting 32,580 tests. Pictured: New South Wales coronavirus figures since June 1
In spite of the low diagnosis rate in New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian is still concerned that the virus could be circulating within the community.
Ms Berejiklian urged all residents in south-western Sydney in particular with 'the mildest of symptoms' to get tested immediately.
'Because we know the virus is circulating in those communities and our anxiety is that we want to reduce the number of unknown cases,' she said.
A statement from NSW Health on Friday confirmed the virus is still within the community.
'While case numbers have remained low this week the virus continues to circulate in the community and vigilance must be maintained,' the statement read.
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'It is vital that high rates of testing continue in order to find the source of the cases still under investigation and to identify and stop further spread of the virus.'
Ms Berejiklian previously expressed concern that untraceable COVID-19 cases were still being identified.
'We're concerned that there is community transmission we haven't picked up,' she said last Friday.
'We're doing well, we're holding our own, but when every week you get a couple of unknown cases and they can't be linked, you do worry.'
There are 111 active coronavirus cases in New South Wales, including seven patients in intensive care and six on ventilators.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned coronavirus is circulating in south-western Sydney
A healthcare worker conducts a coronavirus test on a patient at a COVID-19 testing facility
Overnight, a further 32,580 tests were conducted - and only one positive was found.
Victoria is also experiencing a positive downturn in cases, with just 179 cases identified in the 24 hours to Friday.
Dr Chant said while it is 'pleasing' to see 'some stabilisation in the regional spread of COVID in Victoria', she would not indicate when New South Wales would consider reopening the Victorian border.
The border has been closed since July 8 following the state's second outbreak of COVID-19.
'These are sort of complex decisions that often relate to what other settings Victoria has in place,' she said.
'Some of the concerns we would have would be the movements of people from infected areas (and) what sort of outbreak control measures they've got in place. So it's not just one factor.
'It's multiple factors we would take into account in assessing the public health at that time.'
Dr Chant said while the virus was still in the community, it would pose a threat to public health and safety.
'Because this virus can spread so stealthily in the community … we have to be vigilant for its reintroduction, and we therefore can't go back to how we were before,' she said.
A male airline passenger wears a face shield off a Qantas flight from Melbourne as he waits in line to be checked by New South Wales police. The border between NSW and Victoria is closed
Ms Palaszcuk has been slammed for her tight border restrictions, with critics arguing they are destroying the economy (pictured, the border on August 7)
'We must continue to adopt COVID-safe practices and recognise the threat is with us.'
Meanwhile Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected urge state premiers to 'get practical' and reconsider their position on border closures, as the lockdowns continue to split the country apart.
In addition to the human cost, the closures are wreaking havoc on the economy, which is already teetering on the brink of ruin amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prime minister will address the issues with border closures at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
The federal government will push state leaders to reconsider their positions on keeping borders shut - particularly states without any community transmission.
'Well we've got to be practical about these things, and we've got to act on medical advice and that has to be transparent,' Mr Morrison said earlier this week.
Two women wearing masks as a preventative measure against the coronavirus disease in Sydney
Commuters take the preventative measure of wearing a mask on Sydney public transport to stem the spread of COVID-19
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