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NSW Covid updates: Vax app not ready on time

The app designed to prove your vaccination status won't be ready by the time Freedom Day rolls around. Read our Covid blog.

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell, James O'Doherty, Angira Bharadwaj and Kelsey Hogan
less than 2 min read
September 22, 2021 - 5:50AM
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 02, 2021: A general view of the Service NSW APP on a mobile phone, Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 02, 2021: A general view of the Service NSW APP on a mobile phone, Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The state government’s app designed to make it easier for patrons to prove their vaccination status when checking into a hospitality venue won’t be ready by the time NSW re-opens.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello on Wednesday said the government is “aiming” to pilot the new function in a regional area for two weeks from October 6.

Currently NSW is set to reach the 70 per cent double-dose threshold on October 8, which would ease restrictions on October 11.

That means patrons will need to use the separate Medicare-issued vaccination certificate to prove their inoculation until the app is ready.

The location of the October 6 pilot program has not yet been decided.

Mr Dominello revealed that an additional QR code will be added to the Service NSW app sometime in October, to enable businesses to ensure patrons aren’t faking the check-in process.

“That will validate that this is a Service NSW product,” he said.

He said businesses will need to take “reasonable steps” to ensure patrons aren’t breaking the rules.

“They just can't turn a blind eye,” he said.

Updates

Today's Covid new so far

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Thanks for following our live blog throughout today so far, things have been a little different but there's been lots going on- protests, earthquakes, you name it. But when it comes to Covid, here's the top stories from this morning: 

  • NSW has recorded 1035 new cases and five deaths, and 25 per cent of 12 to 15 year-old have already been vaccinated, according to Gladys Berejiklian.
  • Now 83 per cent of NSW residents have had their first dose, and 54.2 per cent have been fully vaccinated
  • NSW's vaccine passport will be trialled in the bush, with several hundred regional NSW residents set to take part in a two week trial of the digital system from October 5.
  • School formals are back on for Year 12, with Gladys Berejiklian promising "safe" celebrations will be allowed after the HSC exams.
  • Interstate, VIC has recorded 638 new cases and three deaths, QLD has one case in home quarantine and the ACT has 17 new cases. 

Thanks again for following along, we'll be back on Thursday morning to bring you the latest Covid news. Stay at home and stay safe.

I'm a Celeb worker charged after Byron travel

Jonathon Moran
Jonathon Moran

A reality TV production worker whose Covid infection sparked the lockdown of parts of Northern NSW has been charged with breaching public health orders.

It comes as the state recorded five more deaths and 1035 new Covid cases.

The I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! crew member, 31, was charged on Wednesday for multiple breaches of the public health orders in the state's north.

The woman, who was fully vaccinated, triggered a seven-day lockdown in Tweed, Byron and Kempsey on Tuesday afternoon.

Police claimed the woman had been granted an exemption to travel to the area for work-related purposes but allegedly attended several businesses and venues in Byron Bay and Kingscliff, in breach of her exemption.

Police said she did not check into the locations using the business QR codes.

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The Rushcutters Bay woman was issued a court attendance notice for five counts of failing to comply with electronic registration directive. She will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court on November 8.

Players roll up at Bulldogs' drive thru jab site

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

They certainly didn't have far to drive, but several Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players rolled up their sleeves to get a jab at Belmore Sports Ground today.

Jackson Topine, Nick Cotric and Jack Hetherington pulled up at the new drive through vaccination clinic to get their Covid vaccinations earlier today.

The clinic, which opened five days ago is set up in the carpark of the Bulldogs' traditional homeground in Belmore, and offers drive-in vaccinations to locals within the LGA.

Western NSW update

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

There have been a combined 12 new cases in Western and Far West NSW.

Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said that of the new cases:

  • Four were in Dubbo
  • Three were in Wellington
  • Two were in Walgett
  • Three were in Broken Hill

Mr Saunders added there had been one death, but the stabilisation in cases was "reasonably positive".

He said over 40,000 doses of Covid vaccines had now been rolled out by the ADF's vaccination clinics in the Western NSW LHD.

ACT records 17 new cases

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The nation's capital has recorded 17 new cases.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said that nine are linked to known outbreaks or infections, but only one was in quarantine throughout their infectious period.

Twelve people are in hospital with the virus, two people are in intensive care with both requiring ventilation.

There are now 81 per cent of Canberrans who have had one vaccine dose, while 56 per cent are fully vaccinated

VIC'S Covid numbers breakdown

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Of today's 628 new Covid cases:

– 362 cases in Melbourne’s north, including 194 in Hume, 80 in Whittlesea, 47 in Moreland, 23 in Darebin, 10 in Banyule, and eight in Yarra;

– 113 cases in the western suburbs including 27 in Melton, 52 in Wyndham and 34 in Brimbank;

– 62 cases in the south-east including 26 in Casey, 14 in Kardinia, seven in Stonnington, eight in Port Phillip and seven in Kingston; and

– 11 cases in regional Victoria, with one in Wangaratta, one in East Gippsland, two in Geelong, four in Mitchell, two in Moorabool and one in the Macedon Ranges.

– Three people died, a woman in her 50s from Wyndham, a man in his 70s, also from Wyndham and a man in his 80s from Darebin.

-More than 60,829 Victorians turned up for a dose of the Covid vaccine.

-About 73.5 per cent of eligible Victorians have received one dose of the jab, while 44.7 per cent are double-jabbed.

– There are currently 257 people in hospital with COVID-19, 58 are in ICU and 37 are on ventilators.

QLD records 1 case

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Queensland has recorded one new Covid case.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the case was linked to the Sunnybank cluster and was in home quarantine.

There are now 23 active cases in the Sunshine State.

Passport app not ready for NSW's reopening

James O'Doherty
James O'Doherty

THE STATE government’s app designed to make it easier for patrons to prove their vaccination status when checking into a hospitality venue won’t be ready by the time NSW re-opens.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello on Wednesday said the government is “aiming” to pilot the new function in a regional area for two weeks from October 6.

Currently NSW is set to reach the 70 per cent double-dose threshold on October 8, which would ease restrictions on October 11.

That means patrons will need to use the separate Medicare-issued vaccination certificate to prove their inoculation until the app is ready.

The location of the October 6 pilot program has not yet been decided.

Mr Dominello revealed that an additional QR code will be added to the Service NSW app sometime in October, to enable businesses to ensure patrons aren’t faking the check-in process.

“That will validate that this is a Service NSW product,” he said.

He said businesses will need to take “reasonable steps” to ensure patrons aren’t breaking the rules.

“They just can't turn a blind eye,” he said.

Year 12 formals are back on: Gladys

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The Premier has given Year 12 students something to look forward to after their HSC exams, declaring the government will allow schools to host end of year celebrations.

Gladys Berejiklian revealed at the end of today's Covid update that despite a year of disrupted schooling for the state's most senior students, they would get a chance to celebrate like every other year before them.

"I can foreshadow that this Year 12 cohort more than any other deserves to have a good end of year celebration,' Ms Berejiklian said.

"They will occur in a safe way, and the Education Minister will have more to say about that but I want every person who's graduating, attending the HSC, to know that there'll be significant celebrations to celebrate those important milestones."

Ms Berejiklian said Education Minister Sarah Mitchell would provide more detail on the matter later on.

"The Education Minister will outline the time it's safe to do that, but I don't want anyone to be worried, focus on your studies do as best as you can in your exams," she said.

"Please know that there will be an opportunity for you to celebrate what what is an important milestone during a particularly stressful year."

It comes as Year 12s have done much of their final weeks of study from home, with graduations cancelled and HSC exams moved back a month following NSW's Delta battle.

12 LGAs 'declining' but Sydney's east 'increasing'

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell
Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Despite "pleasing declines in the local government areas of concern", Dr Kerry Chant has highlighted growing cases in other areas of Sydney and NSW.

"We are seeing a turn in some of those local government areas, but we've also seen increases in Sydney," she said.

"The Sydney council area into our southeastern area which is around Maroubra and Randwick, those areas, we're seeing the Illawarra… we've also seen Newcastle have higher rates."

Read related topics:COVID NSWCOVID-19 VaccineGladys Berejiklian
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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/coronavirus/covid19-mental-health-minister-pushes-for-school-formals-to-go-ahead/live-coverage/35ffeaaf15a22366f39ca601c44b3cc4