NSW Covid updates: Lismore, Albury in lockdown as state records 1351 cases

Two NSW regions have gone into lockdown as the state recorded 1351 new Covid cases and 12 deaths. Read Thursday's Covid blog. 

Two NSW regions have been plunged into lockdown as the state records 1351 new Covid cases and 12 deaths.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced Lismore and Albury would go into lockdown from 6pm on Thursday.

The lockdown will initially be for seven days.

It comes as 12 other LGAs had lockdown restrictions lifted.

Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and the Upper Hunter shire had stay-at-home orders lifted at 1pm on Thursday.

Read Thursday's blog.

 

Updates

1:32 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

Today's Covid news so far

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Thanks for following along on Thursday's live Covid blog. There's been lots to cover this morning but in case you didn't catch all of it, here's what's been happening:

• NSW has recorded 1351 new cases and another 12 deaths.
• Albury and Lismore are going into lockdown for a week from 6pm tonight after Covid cases were confirmed in both border towns. Officials are investigating links to Sydney.
• 12 regional LGAs have come out of lockdown, with stay at home orders ending for the Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Shire LGAs at 1pm.
• Hundreds of residents in three Redfern social housing blocks are isolating after 12 confirmed cases inside.
• QLD has one new case in home quarantine, VIC has 514 and will ease some restrictions from tomorrow. The ACT has 15 new cases.

Thanks again for tagging along, we'll be back bright and early with more Covid news on Friday morning. Stay at home and stay safe.

1:22 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

Black tie events mark path out of lockdown

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Government lawyers are working to draft rules that will ban unvaccinated patrons and staff from hospitality venues when NSW begins to open up at 70 per cent double dose.

As anticipation grows around the state for a looming end to lockdowns, it comes amid a warning strict rules limiting travel for exercise and shopping will remain in place for people who aren’t vaccinated when restrictions are lifted.

Despite requiring new regulations to enforce the vaccination mandate, the state government did not get legal advice on its reopening road map before it was announced.

For more on this story, click here.

1:04 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

Mandatory jabs for construction workers in VIC

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

All construction workers will need one dose of a Covid vaccine to be allwoed to go to work, the VIC Premier has announced.

Daniel Andrews revealed all tradies would nee to get their first dose by next Thursday, September 23.

But tea rooms at worksites will need to be closed and food and drink can no longer be consumed indoors to help prevent Covid exposure on construction sites.

For more on VIC's Covid latest, click here.

1:02 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

Gatherings back on in Melbourne

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Fully vaccinated people can meet up in Melbourne under new rules which kick in from tomorrow after VIC ht the 70 per cent vax milestone.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced at today's Covid update two people from different households can now catch up for a coffee, picnic or a walk.
But groups of five can also gather, across two different households, if all the people meeting are fully vaccinated, he said.

On the advice of the Chief Health Officer – and thanks to the 70% of Victorians who have had at least their first vaccine dose – we are able to make some small changes to restrictions in Metro Melbourne and Regional Victoria. pic.twitter.com/SNYaQBxXmN

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) September 16, 2021

Other new freedoms also include:

• The radius for shopping and exercise has increased to 10 kilometres
• Four hours of exercise are allowed
• Outdoor communal gym equipment and skate parks can reopen
• Personal training with up to two people plus the trainer is allowed
• In-home childcare is extended to families where just one parent is an essential worker
• Real estate inspections for new purchases and ending leases are allowed
• Up to 50 per cent of construction staff are allowed onsite where 90 per cent of those staff are vaccinated

12:56 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

VIC's Covid numbers breakdown

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Of Victoria's 514 new cases:

One hundred and forty eight are linked to existing outbreaks.

There are now 182 Victorians in hospital with Covid, 51 are in intensive care and 29 are being ventilated.

At least 68.3 per cent of Victorians aged over 15 had received their first jab, while 41.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

More than 41,700 doses were administered on Wednesday.

12:52 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

ACT won't go back to zero by lockdown's end

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The ACT's Chief Minister has declared the territory won't meet the deadline of zero Covid cases by October 15, when the lockdown is next set to potentially end.

When asked about if the ACT would be able to contain the outbreak currently, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he "wouldn't" back the number reaching zero by a month's time.

"It depends how you define contained. You can mount an argument that we are containing (the virus)," Mr Barr said.

"But if you're asking if we can get back to zero before October 15, I wouldn't make that bold prediction."

Over 75 per cent of people aged 12 and over had had one dose of vaccine in the ACT.

It comes as a $26 million community support package was announced for businesses affected by the continued lockdown.

Officials also shared two positive cases had been found at Canberra's prison through routine testing.

12:46 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

ACT records 15 new cases

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The nation's capital has recorded 15 new cases of Covid-19.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said eleven cases were linked to existing cases and outbreaks.

Five were in quarantine for their infectious period and nine people are in hospital, with one in ICU.

There are 241 active cases in the ACT.

ACT COVID-19 update (16 September 2021):
– New cases today: 15
– Active cases: 241
– Total recovered cases: 315
– Total cases: 556
– Negative test results (past 24 hours): 1,856
– In hospital: 9 pic.twitter.com/NOqWSiWxdp

— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) September 16, 2021

12:40 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

Economy to 'bounce back' once roadmap begins

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

John Barilaro is "confident" NSW's economy will "bounce back" once the 70 per cent double dose roadmap is enacted.

"This is the real cost of the economy, shutdown, jobs are lost, businesses on the brink of closure…. more of that pain continues until we get out of lockdown," Mr Barilaro said.

"Right across the globe, economies have been brought to the knees and it's no different in NSW… once we hit October and reopening. So we look forward to that. I'm confident that the economy will bounce back."

Mr Barilaro also said an 80 per cent vaccination roadmap was being developed to be "parallel" with the 70 per cent one.

12:34 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

"Sympathy" for sick TikTok star

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Brad Hazzard has shared he does have "sympathy" for a TikTok star who previously foiled health officials' plans by leaking the daily Covid numbers hours ahead of schedule.

Jon-Bernard Kairouz, who calls himself "The People's Premier" and allegedly attended the CBD anti-lockdown protest in July, is now in hospital battling the virus.

But the Health minister said despite Mr Kairouz's "juvenile" take on the pandemic, he did "have sympathy" for him.

"I would say that I have sympathy for anybody who gets Covid, Covid can actually kill you," Mr Hazzard said.

"So even though I might be frustrated with that gentleman's juvenile way of approaching a situation… we still have sympathy with the fact that he's now got it."

Mr Hazzard added: "But there's a very strong message there and that is don't take this trivially, don't be silly about to take every aspect of COVID-19 seriously."

12:26 pm September 16, 2021 Highlight

'Obligation' for health staff to get jabbed: Hazzard

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Brad Hazzard has warned healthcare workers who are still unvaccinated to get the jab, hinting they may lose their jobs.

As the November 30 deadline for staff to be fully vaccinated draws closer, Mr Hazzard said it was health staff's "obligation" to get vaccinated.

"You have an obligation to the patients and patients coming to our hospitals, the expectation that they'll be kept safe. So, whatever the consequences may be, there is no other choice, they have to get vaccinated," he said.

He added officials were still "working through" how exactly the process would work if employees don't get vaccinated.

"Suffice to say that if you're in a position where you're putting yourself and your colleagues or your patients at risk, you probably can't continue in that position, but we're working through that," Mr Hazzard said.