Drop in case numbers after highest daily total reported on Christmas

Of those 39 cases, two of them were reported in the Bathurst local government area (LGA), one of which was identified in a Kelso resident.

Orange reported the highest number of cases in the district, with eight in total.

There were also six cases in Dubbo, five in the Mid-Western LGA, three each in Warrumbungle Shire and Cobar, two each in Cowra and Warren, and one each in Blayney, Bogan Shire, Cabonne Shire, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Oberon, the Parkes LGA, and Walgett Shire.

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The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) published the figures at 11am Sunday, coming 24 hours after it reported the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.

There were 119 cases recorded to 8pm Friday.

The health district had anticipated that it would be a record day before the reporting period had come to an end.

"There has already been a substantial number of new cases identified since 8pm [Thursday] and we are now expecting to report the highest daily total in the district so far on Christmas Day," acting executive Mark Spittal said on Friday.

Operating hours at testing sites around the district were reduced on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which might have led to the lower case numbers reported to 8pm Saturday.

As most testing facilities won't operate on public holidays, the health district has advised anyone with symptoms or who has received health advice to get tested, to self isolate and arrange for a test as soon as possible.

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