Residents of south and south western Sydney and the northern beaches are urged to come forward for COVID-19 testing after more positive results from sewage testing were recorded by NSW Health.
For the fourth day in a row NSW recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases with five new cases in returned travellers.
NSW Health reported this morning 12213 tests had been conducted statewide up until 8 pm last night, but admitted a "small IT issue" had precluded the inclusion of approximately 6000 negative tests in the figiures. It said those figures would be reported in Friday's numbers.
"High testing rates help reveal cases that would otherwise go undetected," NSW deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty said.
"Every person who gets tested is not only helping to protect others in the community but they are playing an important role in helping contain the spread of COVID-19."
Sewage detection found coronavirus fragments in testing in Warriewood the northern beaches, a catchment which takes in 160,0000, and at Berala.
NSW Health said, while it likely reflects recently confirmed cases in those areas, all residents in those areas are asked to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate immediately if they appear.
On Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian pledged to ease restrictions, particularly for residents of Greater Sydney which includes Wollongong, by next week should case numbers low.
