NSW Health confirms COVID-19 outbreak in oncology ward

• NSW Health confirms there is an outbreak of COVID-19 within an oncology ward in Sydney’s south west, as the state’s case numbers continue to rise
• Another 452 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in NSW, while five people have been linked to the outbreak at St George Hospital in Kogarah
• All the cancer patients on the ward are being treated as close contacts, while a jail in Sydney is also dealing with an outbreak among four prisoners
• In neighbouring Victoria, 24 new cases of COVID-19 have been announced on Tuesday as the state wakes to new curfew restrictions
• Canberra notched up 17 new cases of the virus today, as authorities try to determine the source of the original infection that sparked its lockdown

NSW Health confirms there is an outbreak of COVID-19 within an oncology ward in Sydney’s south west, as the state’s case numbers continue to rise.

Another 452 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in NSW on Tuesday, while five people have been linked to the outbreak in St George Hospital in Kogarah.

NSW recorded 452 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/V8iZFFHJFd

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 17, 2021

All the cancer patients on the oncology ward at St George are being treated as close contacts, while a jail in Sydney is also dealing with an outbreak.

Four inmates at Silverwater Jail have tested positive for the virus and have been moved to secure, isolated housing.

Additionally, an abattoir in Dubbo has closed its doors as the number of COVID-19 cases in the regional town continues to grow.

All of NSW was placed in a week-long lockdown at the weekend, while Sydney residents have been subject to stay-at-home orders for close to two months.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the coming months would be difficult for the state, but they must hit an 80 per cent vaccination rate.

“Obviously we’re keen to make sure we hit the 70 per cent double dose and 80 per cent double dose targets,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Now, at this stage, those targets will be met at the end of October for 70 per cent double dose, and mid-November for 80 per cent double dose.

In neighbouring Victoria, 24 new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Tuesday as the state woke to new curfew restrictions.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews introduced 9pm to 5am curfews across Melbourne in response to several incident of rule-breaking.

Another three positive case have been linked to one incident in particular – an illegal engagement party attended by 69 people in St Kilda.

Canberra notched up 17 new cases of the virus today, as ACT health authorities try to determine the source of the outbreak which sent the territory into lockdown.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said it was not known how the original infection, a man in his 20s, contracted COVID-19.

“We are continuing to do investigations into that group of first cases that were identified to see if we can identify any of the linkages that are occurring there,” Dr Coleman said.

“What we want to do is we want to establish links so we can make sure there’s no ongoing chains of transmission.”