NSW coronavirus cases pass 1000 which includes a two month old baby

As at 8pm, Tuesday 24 March 2020, an additional 211 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed, since 8pm 23 March, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 1029.

NSW's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said many of the new COVID-19 cases were linked to the Ruby Princess.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she "strongly backed in"the tigheter restrictions introduced by Prime Minister Scott Morison on Tuesday night  and enforcement is being stepped up as the number of COVID-19 cases in NSW is now over 1000, which includes a two-month-old baby.

Ms Berejiklian also revealed that NSW was planning to implement mobile phone tracking technology similar to what is used in Singapore to stop the spread of coronavirus. The technology will help authorities monitor where people are when they are meant to be self-isolating.

The Premier says there should be no social entertaining at home except with immediate family members.

NSW Health Department media release revealed that NSW received its first cases of COVID-19 in children under 10 years old with a two month-old boy and a seven year-old girl testing positive. The two children are unrelated and the cases are separate.

The two month-old boy was already in home isolation as a close contact of an adult diagnosed with COVID-19 and the baby is presently displaying only mild symptoms.

The seven year-old girl was also in home isolation as a known close contact of two adult cases. She did not attended school while symptomatic.

There are currently 10 COVID-19 cases in our Intensive Care Units and of those cases, only four require ventilators at this stage.  

The Sydney Church of Christ service on 8 March at Ryde Civic Centre attended by more than 300 people now has 13 positive cases. Identified close contacts are in self-isolation.

There has been one new confirmed case in both the Quakers Hill and Bankstown Opal Care facilities. NSW Health is following up all close and casual contacts of both confirmed cases and both facilities are in lockdown.

NSW Health is alerting passengers who were close contacts on flights to monitor for symptoms, and contact their GP, but call ahead first, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or visit a NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinic should they become unwell.

A full list of flight details can be found here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-flights.aspx

NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinics are up and running across the state however, we stress these clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, or people like our health workers. People without symptoms do not need to be tested.

The link for the location of these clinics is available here:

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-clinics.aspx