Sign NSW outbreak far from over as state records 919 new cases in worst day ever

NSW’s top doctor has revealed the ominous warning signs that the state’s outbreak is far from over, and the only way we’ll get out of it.

There is a days-long delay on Covid-19 test results and contact tracers are at breaking point in a sign the NSW outbreak is far from over.

The state recorded 919 new cases of Covid-19 and two deaths on Wednesday, including a woman in her 30s whose death was reported yesterday.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there was “no doubt” the health system was under pressure.

NSW Chief Health officer Kerry Chant echoed those comments.

“We have to be very honest that the surge in cases has put stress on the health system,” she said.

“I want to be very clear with the community, the surging cases, and the delay in our testing turnaround times has meant that people may have been tested three days ago and not got (results).”

While those who have been tested must remain in isolation until their results are back, concern is growing that under the increasing workload, some contacts of positive cases are likely in the community, and could be unknowingly spreading the virus.

Young people in western Sydney and the city’s southwest have been urged to get vaccinated now. Picture: NCA NewsWire

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has revealed the ominous warning signs the state’s outbreak is far from over. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Dr Chant said the state would “never stop” contact tracing, and NSW Health was developing new ways to prioritise tests and tracing.

“What we’re is doing (tracing) smarter and scaling it,” she said.

“Innovation of the text message, we are also embedding in the text message, little surveys that can tell us if they are a household member or they are in aged care or any critical workplace. “Again, because a household member in isolation doesn’t pose as much need for public health interventions.

“We are looking at turning our mind to all the innovations. I’ve got to say increasing case numbers do challenge our services but we are supported by a broad team to look at how best we can focus.”

The chief health officer also urged people who don’t have symptoms, haven’t knowingly been exposed to the virus and aren’t living in areas of concern not to get tested and leave those resources to those who are sick or have been knowingly exposed.

“Don’t use those scarce testing resources because we need to get the turnaround times for tests down as soon as possible,” she said.

There are currently 645 people in hospital with Covid-19 including 113 in ICU, 40 of which are on a ventilator.

Westmead Hospital, in western Sydney, has had to stop taking Covid-19 patients for at least the next 24 hours after reaching capacity overnight.

Mr Hazzard said staff at the hospital are currently responsible for 1500 patients in the community and 121 patients on their wards, with 23 of those in ICU beds.

“Last week, Westmead Hospital had 280 patients who came in by ambulance with COVID. So about 40 ambulance deliveries a day with COVID,” he said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Westmead Hospital alone took in 280 patients with Covid-19 in one week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

But not all hope was lost.

Dr Chant also issued a desperate plea to young people in areas of concern to go and get jabbed with one of the priority Pfizer vaccines.

“The modelling suggests if we can get that group vaccinated, we will break the transmission chain,” she said.“It will take a while … but the solution is in our hands.”

The news comes after crisis talks were held about whether or not to extend the regional NSW lockdown beyond August 28 as Covid spot fires continued to take hold.

NSW recorded 919 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

178 are linked to a known case or cluster – 153 are household contacts and 25 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 741 cases is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/EHno1IdMwV

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 25, 2021

More than 125,000 people got vaccinated against Covid-19 in the last 24 hours meaning a third of the population is fully vaccinated.

The good news was overshadowed by Wednesday’s daily case numbers with NSW marking the worst day it has ever seen after the state experienced a dip in case numbers on Tuesday.

The two people who died included a young Sydney mother who was tragically found dead at her home yesterday.

The other was a man in his 80s who died at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.

He caught the disease at the Greenwood Aged Care in Normanhurst and takes the death toll linked to the facility to three.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged areas of concern including Guildford, Auburn, Merrylands and Greystanes.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced 919 new cases on Wednesday, a record for the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“Western NSW also remains concerning (to) the health authorities (while) other parts of the regions are demonstrating some stabilisation in the number of cases,” she said.

Fragments of Covid-19 were also detected at the sewage treatment plants in Bateau Bay, Toukley and Merimbula, which serve around 39,000, 29,000 and 15,500 people respectively.

And there were another 49 cases in Western NSW.

“There is no doubt people would be alarmed by rising case numbers but (it shows) vaccines work because our hospitalisation rate is relatively low,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“A measure of how we are doing is keeping people out of hospital and stopping people from dying. That is the most important measure.”