Corona Virus deaths in NSW rise to five

Corona Virus deaths in NSW rise to five

NSW HEALTH Media Statement - As at 11am, Wednesday 18 March 2020

As at 11am today, an additional 57 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed and an additional death, since our last update at 11am, March 17, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 267.

NSW Health can confirm a fifth death in NSW from COVID-19. An 86-year-old man previously notified with COVID-19 died last night in a Sydney hospital. Our condolences are with his family and friends at this time.

NSW Health is alerting passengers who were close contacts on the following 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.

Flight details of confirmed cases:

Emirates flight EK412 (codeshare: QF8412) from Dubai to Sydney, arriving 7 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 1 -3

Qantas flight QF40 from Sapporo New Chitose to Sydney, arriving 9 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 36 – 44

Emirates flight EK412 (codeshare: QF8412) from Dubai to Sydney, arriving 9 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 64 - 66

Etihad flight EY454 from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, arriving 10 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 10 -14

Virgin Australia flight VA1141 from Sydney to Ballina, arriving 10 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 7 – 11

Qantas flight QF12 from Los Angeles to Sydney, arriving 11 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 1 – 5

Qatar flight QR906 from Doha to Sydney, arriving 12 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 27 – 29

Malaysian Airlines flight MH141 from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney, arriving 13 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 32 – 36

Qatar flight QR906 from Doha to Sydney, arriving 13 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 31 – 35

Virgin Australia flight VA820 from Melbourne to Sydney, arriving 13 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 8 – 12

Virgin Australia flight VA859 from Sydney to Melbourne, arriving 13 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 10 – 14

Emirates flight EK414 from Dubai to Sydney, arriving 14 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 52 - 55

Qantas flight QF2 from Singapore to Sydney, arriving 15 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 6 – 10

Qantas flight QF2 from London to Sydney (via Singapore), arriving 16 March 2020. Close contacts were in rows 11 – 13

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.

It is vital that these respiratory clinics are not overwhelmed with people who are not in the high risk groups, which could result in delays identifying those most vulnerable.