Three Covid-related deaths were also reported by NSW Health, taking the death toll in the Sydney outbreak to a total of 60. There are currently 462 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital in NSW, with 77 people in intensive care, 25 of whom require ventilation. NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said she was extremely concerned by the "rising numbers of cases." ACTCanberra has recorded an additional 22 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases as more than 12,500 people across the capital have been forced into quarantine. Chief health officer Kerryn Coleman confirmed 63 cases have been linked while the remaining four cases are still under investigation.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 17, 2021 22:56 UTC