NSW records 10th day of zero community transmission

NSW records 10th day of zero community transmission

NSW has recorded its 10th day in a row without a locally acquired COVID-19 case. In the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday, there was one case in a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.

There were 4789 tests in the period, which is the lowest numbers have been since April.

It’s almost a 50 per cent drop from the 8305 tests reported from Saturday.

Stephen Corbett from NSW Health urged the public to lift the state’s testing rates.

“NSW Health is appealing to the community to come forward for testing right away if you have even the mildest of symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough or fever or other symptoms that could be COVID-19,” Dr Corbett said.

“If people don’t come forward and get tested, we can’t keep the pandemic at bay.”

NSW Health said it had a target of about 8000 daily tests, a decrease from its earlier target of 20,000 a day.

Lower testing rates were expected at this time due to school holidays and authorities are urging people not to delay testing even if they are away from home.

However, several testing clinics across the state were closed on Monday or had limited hours due to the Labour Day public holiday.

Despite Monday’s low figures, the health department is still urging residents to wear masks on public transport and in ride-sharing services or other places where people cannot physically distance