NSW Covid updates: Thirteen deaths, 1083 Covid cases and 51 per cent fully vaxxed
NSW has recorded 1083 new cases of Covid and 13 people have died with the infection. Victorian infections have risen to 507, at the same time as the state has released its roadmap to freedom. Read that lastest Covid updates
NSW has recorded 1,083 new cases of Covid and 13 people have died with the infection in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday.
At the same time, 51.9 per cent of the state’s population are now double dosed with the vaccination.
From Monday, residents in hotspot local government areas will be able to enjoy unlimited recreation and gather in groups of up to five fully vaccinated adults, with most restrictions in LGAs of concern to be aligned with other areas.
It comes as NSW recorded its deadliest day yet in the pandemic with 13 deaths recorded in people aged 40 and older, two of which were in people’s homes.
People in hotspot areas will be able to travel anywhere within their LGA — or within 5km from home if leaving their LGA — for shopping, exercise, and recreation.
Residents can travel anywhere in Greater Sydney as a guest at a small wedding.
Singles’ buddies can come from anywhere in Greater Sydney and hotspot LGA residents can be a nominated visitor for anyone in Sydney.
Authorised worker conditions requiring vaccination and travel permit requirements will remain.
“Everything will be the same across Greater Sydney, except for the list of authorised workers and the associated permits,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Local mayor celebrates easing of restrictions
The Mayor of Cumberland has celebrated the easing of restrictions for hotspot LGAs as a major win for the community, saying it is “pleasing” the Premier finally heeded calls.
Clr Steve Christou was among 12 mayors who last week pleaded with Premier Gladys Berejiklian to reopen public pools, remove curfews and bring rules in hotspots in line with the rest of Sydney for weeks.
On Sunday, the Premier finally heeded these calls, announcing that from 12.01am on Monday the communities of Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith will face the same rules as the rest of Sydney.
“I’ve been advocating for equality for our LGA for months as the restrictions imposed were out of step with the rest of Sydney,” Clr Christou said.
“Last week, I was one of 12 mayors who met with the Premier to discuss our concerns. I made three requests: an end to curfews, the re-opening of public swimming pools and for the LGAs of concern to come out of restrictions equally with the rest of Sydney. Within days, all three of those have been delivered.
“Today the Premier acknowledged the disparity and huge impact that these lockdown restrictions have had on western Sydney. I’ve been highlighting this for months so it’s pleasing that the Premier has acknowledged this and that western Sydney is leading the way in vaccination rates.”
Victoria’s roadmap to freedom
Tennis, basketball and other recreational sports could be reopened in Victoria as early as next week, with the government to free up outdoor activities when the state reaches 80 per cent single-dose vaccinations.
The expected date for this would be September 26.
VCE students are set to sit their GAT test on October 5, and Year 12, final-year VCAL and international baccalaureate students will be able to resume on-site learning.
From October 18, prep students will be allowed back to school three days a week, while gade 1 and 2 students can return two days a week.
More freedoms will be unlocked around October 26, when 70 per cent of Victoria’s eligible population is double-vaccinated.
The lockdown will be lifted and curfew will be scrapped.
All school students can return on-site at least part-time.
The hospitality sector will open for outdoor service, but only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to dine out, with a maximum of 50 patrons.
When Victoria hits 80 per cent full vaccination, indoor service will resume for 25 people.
Haircuts are back at 70 per cent but only for five people.
That jumps to 150 customers at 80 per cent, with beauty and personal care also returning.
Regional Victoria and Melbourne will come under the same plan once 80 per cent of the population aged over 16 is fully vaccinated, which is currently expected around November 5.
This will include allowing up to 10 people at your house and up to 150 fully vaccinated people being able to dine indoors.
Groups of 30 will be allowed outdoors.
Premier Daniel Andrews told Victorians to book an AstraZeneca jab because of concerns about Pfizer supplies.
He said it was “uncertain how much Pfizer is going to come to our country in October.”
“Go and book an AstraZeneca appointment,” he said.
ACT records 17 new Covid cases
Canberra has recorded 17 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, bringing the national capital’s outbreak to 619 cases.
Of the 17 new cases, five were in isolation for their entire infectious period and 12 were contagious in the community.
Eleven of the transmissions have been linked to existing cases while six remained under investigation.
A persistent increase in case numbers saw Canberra’s lockdown extended by another four weeks on Tuesday. It is now set to end on October 15.
Vaccination rate of 80 per cent not ‘freedom day’, AMA warns
Australians are being cautioned by the nation’s peak medical body to not view the achievement of key vaccination milestones as “freedom day”.
The Australian Medical Association has cautiously backed the government’s national plan to reopen that nation but warned politicians against selling vaccination targets as a ticket to freedom.
“Achievement of the 70 per cent or 80 per cent vaccination targets in the national plan or the Doherty modelling cannot be regarded or promoted as being ‘freedom day’,” the AMA’s communique said on Sunday.
“These targets must be treated as incremental steps towards higher benchmarks that Doherty will provide further advice on.”
Under the national plan, restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals will be eased once 70 and 80 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated.
The nation is projected to reach the 70 per cent target in October.
The statement, backed by the body’s 35-member federal council, comes after the Doherty Institute provided updated advice to national cabinet on Friday.
National cabinet was told it would be prudent to maintain “medium” public health measures, such as stay-at-home orders, in areas of concern until an 80 per cent vaccination target was reached.
Advice from the AMA is in lock-step with the Doherty Institute’s advice, with the communique outlining that Australia cannot solely rely on a vaccination strategy.
“Public health measures including restrictions, social distancing, and personal hygiene, alongside testing, contact tracing and quarantine must remain part of the suite of measures used to effectively manage the pandemic,” the statement said.
The AMA said while lockdowns remained an effective tool, the economic and social cost was “not sustainable”.
“Lockdowns are an effective tool and, while we wait for vaccination rates to significantly improve, necessary to protect our health system and the community,” the statement said.
“However, the emergence of the Delta strain has shown that it is very difficult to achieve elimination through lockdowns and we know that they come at a significant social and economic cost that is not sustainable.”
– By Courtney Gould
Victoria’s new cases grow to 507
Victoria has recorded 507 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Sunday as new cases continue to rise throughout lockdown.
It’s the eighth straight day Victoria has recorded more than 400 new cases and fourth in a row above 500 as infections continue to trend upwards.
One new death was also announced on Sunday.
Eleven people have now died with Covid during the latest outbreak, with 831 lives lost since the start of the pandemic.
The health department did not say how many mystery cases there were or how many were in isolation during their infectious period.
Despite the rising cases, Premier Daniel Andrews is set to reveal Victoria’s road map out of lockdown later on Sunday.
Victorians will learn what new freedoms that will be able to enjoy once 70 per cent of the population is double vaccinated, which is predicted to be in late October.
Face-to-face school classes, outdoor dining and extended travel limits are expected to be some of the first restrictions eased.
Greater freedoms will then be put in place once the state reaches 80 per cent of people aged 16 and older with two doses of the vaccine, which is predicted to be in mid-November.
No new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine on Sunday. More than 20,790 primary close contacts remain in isolation in Victoria. There are now 5262 active cases in the state.
– By Jack Paynter
Nurse pressure forces ICU staffing review
Staffing in intensive care units is set to be reviewed, with Health Minister Brad Hazzard issuing the order after meeting with frontline nurses.
Mr Hazzard, who described the meeting as “very valuable”, said it was clear ICU nurses and doctors worked in the most “difficult” and “challenging” of environments.
While the government had employed more nurses for ICUs than in the state’s history, staff had argued more were still needed.
“Our ICU nurses and doctors are the people we entrust our lives to when unfortunate circumstances befall us,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I have raised that issue with NSW Health and requested a review of staffing arrangements.”
Mr Hazzard met with a group of ICU nurses about their “grave” concerns in being able to look after patients adequately with existing staff amid the escalating Covid crisis.
The nurses, who are members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, hail from Blacktown, Concord, Hornsby, Liverpool, Royal Prince Alfred and Westmead hospitals.
The meeting, which occurred online on Thursday and involved NSW Health Department officials, followed an open letter signed by more than 700 ICU nurses to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Mr Hazzard calling for urgent staffing increases.
Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.au
More Coverage
Live Updates
Read related topics:COVID NSW
Join the conversation
Covid cases surge in NSW as 2023 death toll revealed
Covid cases are on the rise in NSW, and the true toll of the virus this year has been revealed, with almost 4000 Australians dying from the virus in 2023.
Read more
Revealed: The Aussie age group still dying from Covid
Twenty-three Australians are dying every day from Covid-19 - but one age group continues to dominate the numbers. Find out who is most at risk.
Read more