New COVID-19 cases rising in Shoalhaven as numbers near 300

NSW Health reported 1328 new cases within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District in the 24 hours to 4pm, made up of 799 positive rapid antigen tests and 529 positive PCR tests.

Of these numbers, 283 new cases were identified in the Shoalhaven.

This is a jump from yesterday's numbers, which saw 215 new cases recorded in the Shoalhaven, and Monday's numbers which saw 170 new cases.

Meantime Wollongong recorded 640 new cases of the virus, Shellharbour recorded 326 and Kiama, 79 in Wednesday's update.

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Statewide, five deaths and 24,115 new COVID-19 cases were recorded.

NSW Health confirmed two people were aged in their 80s, two people were aged in their 90s and one person was aged 100.

All five had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,036.

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NSW's case tally has grown on Tuesday's, when 20,960 were reported, and are the highest since January 21, when 25,168 were recorded in a single day (excluding when a reporting glitch saw numbers leap to 30,402 on March 16).

There are 1162 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 44 in ICU.

Hospitalisation numbers are down on Tuesday, when 1177 patients were being cared for, however ICU numbers are up with 41 in care yesterday.

Of the new statewide cases, 15,439 came from positive rapid antigen tests while 8676 came from PCR testing.

The jump in case numbers comes as the Prime Minister says pre-departure testing requirements could soon be removed for international travellers, with Greg Hunt to make an announcement on the matter "soon", according to Scott Morrison.

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Travellers currently need to show a negative COVID-19 test result in order to board a flight to Australia even if they are fully vaccinated.

A spokesperson for Mr Hunt said he is continuing to receive health advice before making further changes to Australia's biosecurity measures.

NSW's population aged 16 years and over is 94.5 per cent double vaccinated, while 96 per cent have had their first COVID-19 vaccine shot.

58.6 per cent have had their third dose of vaccine.

Those aged between 12 and 15 years are 79.3 per cent double vaccinated, while 83.5 per cent have had their first dose.

Of those aged 5 to 11 years old, 48.9 per cent have had their first vaccine dose.

- with Australian Associated Press

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