NSW Covid updates: NSW records 1331 new cases and six deaths

Six people have died in NSW as the state recorded a further 1331 Covid cases in the past 24 hours. It comes as the first Moderna vaccines arrive in Australia, and a cardiologist voiced his concerns over unvaccinated nurses working in hospitals.

There have been 1331 cases of Covid-19 recorded in NSW to 8pm last night, which included the deaths of six people — four women and two men from western and south western Sydney.

The people who died included one aged in their 40s, one in their 60s, two in their 70s and two in their 80s.

Three of the six people who died were not vaccinated and three had received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Two cases were acquired overseas, and 25 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation.

There are currently 1219 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 233 people in intensive care, 123 of whom require ventilation.

Across NSW, 81.2 per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose Covid-19 vaccine, and 50.6 per cent are fully vaccinated to 11.59pm on Thursday, September 16.

Pallets of the first shipment of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccines arrive in Australia on Friday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/Getty

This comes as Moderna vaccines arrived in Australia from a Belgium plan.

“The additional Moderna vaccines will provide more opportunities for Australians to get vaccinated, including those aged 12-15 who recently joined the rollout, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t received a COVID-19 vaccine yet to book one today,” Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

‘Nurses must get vaccinated’

The latest figures were released as a senior cardiologist called on all health workers in hospitals to be vaccinated after a dozen of his colleagues were forced into isolation after two unvaccinated nurses with Covid worked at St Vincent’s Hospital last week.

Prof Jason Kovacic, head of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s cardiologist said the situation was untenable when one of the top catheterisation labs in the nation had to close down as a result.

The incident also forced a dozen other hospital workers to isolate.

Police in Sydney Park today. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

“This is not a tenable situation for one of the top catheterisation laboratories in the country, we can’t be functioning like that,” Professor Jason Kovacic, head of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s cardiologist, said.

“We can’t have the hospital system having to shut down like this because of unvaccinated employees.

“It does raise issues about civil rights and liberties, but at the same time we can’t have our patients’ lives at risk. They have a right to be able to come to hospital and be safe.

“As health care workers the Hippocratic oath is first ‘do no harm’ and that is the foundational roots and platform of our whole healthcare system.

“Our patients across the health care system have the right and need to be treated in safety and when we can’t ­provide that there is a real problem.”

Professor Jason Kovacic, from The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, says all healthcare workers should be vaccinated.

The crisis is at tipping point, with NSW Health estimating 88 per cent of nursing staff have had at least one vaccine – but up to one in 10 nurses are threatening to leave the ­industry if they are forced to get jabbed.

A Public Health Order ­requires health workers to have one dose of the Covid vaccine by September 30.

By November 30, they are required to have had two doses.

Brett Holmes from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said he was aware many nurses were against mandatory vaccinations and may leave the industry as a ­result.

“We’ve never called for mandatory vaccination but we accept that is a decision that has been made by government,” Mr Holmes said.

“We strongly support vaccination, absolutely encourage every person to get vaccinated. But there are consequences of mandatory vaccination.

“I’m nervous about what will be the consequences on the first of October when those people don’t turn up at work.

“Some have found compulsion contrary to everything they have ever been taught about the administration of medication. Some quote the immunisation handbook that clearly states people should have informed consent.

“Others talk about their experience in undertaking trials in medication who have been hammered in their training about you must get consent from people and they believe compulsion doesn’t fit that.”

Mr Holmes said it was likely if nurses were not vaccinated by now, it was more likely by choice as opposed to an access issue.
St Vincent’s Hospital has a vaccination hub right in the centre of the hospital.
“You suffer a strong level of hesitancy with two weeks to go.”

“I acknowledge and respect individual’s rights to make a choice about these matters,” Prof Kovacic said.

“But I also respect very deeply, and stand for the rights of the patients to expect a safe environment in the hospital. We can’t have our patients at risk.”

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Originally published as NSW Covid updates: NSW records 1331 new cases and six deaths