Covid updates: NSW moves past critical 80 per cent double jab target

NSW has become the first state in Australia to hit the critical 80 per cent double dose vaccination target for residents aged 16 and over.

NSW has won more freedoms after reaching the critical 80 per cent double dose vaccination target for residents aged 16 and over.

Premier Dominic Perrottet tweeted on Saturday afternoon that the significiant milestone had been reached.

“80% in NSW! Been a long wait but we’ve done it. Feels great to break this news. Huge thanks to all the nurses and vaccination hub staff at @NSWHealth, the GPs, the pharmacists, and each and every person who rolled up their sleeve to get us here,” Perrottet posted.

“Restrictions ease further on Monday, so keep up to date with @NSWHealth and @ServiceNSW. Summer in NSW is looking good,” he added.

NSW has recorded 319 new cases and two deaths in the past 24 hours.

Here’s cheers NSW! Dani Barona (left), Angela Osorio (centre) and Kate Alfonso enjoy catch-up drinks at The Clock in Surry Hills. Picture: Julian Andrews

From Monday 20 visitors will be allowed in homes, 50 people outdoors and 200 at Covid safe outdoor events.

Community sport can resume including spectators, and drinking while standing and dancing indoors will be allowed. Masks will also not be required at work.

There will be no caps on weddings, funerals and religious services and no more masks in office buildings for the fully vaccinated.

“We set out a road map which from Monday will provide a removal of a number restrictions that have been put in place,” Perrottet said.

POLICE SHUT DOWN ‘FREEDOM PUB’

A notorious “freedom” pub in the Hunter Valley has been shut down for repeatedly allowing unvaccinated people to come inside.

The Caledonia Hotel in Singleton was shut down on Saturday, following six separate fines being handed to staff and the 57-year-old licensee.

The George St pub has been displaying signs including “jab or no jab all welcome”.

The venue will remain closed until midnight on Tuesday, October 19.

JAB RATES EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS

By Jane Hansen

AS NSW hit 80 per cent fully vaccinated and 85 per cent of Australia has had one dose, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt was actually more surprised than delighted.

This time last year, Mr Hunt said he would be pleased if Australia got to 70 per cent by the end of 2021.

“We have been cautious in our expectations but quietly hopeful behind the scenes but where we are now has exceeded my best expectations and hopes,” Mr Hunt said.

Earlier in the year, research suggested 30 per cent of Australians were vaccine-hesitant and there was a noisy minority of anti-vax protesters.

“On that we were very confident that we would get to at least 70 per cent and probably 80 per cent. We saw the vaccine hesitancy but we also recognised that as large numbers of people took it up, other people would development much more confidence,” he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt is thrilled with vaccination rates. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Whether Australia hits the 90 per cent double vaccination rate depends on Western Australia and Queensland stepping up. Currently their double vaccination rate lags at around 54-55 per cent rate respectively.

“By definition we have hit 90 per cent in the ACT and NSW and I’m very confident Victoria will get to 90 per cent. I won’t make a prediction yet on Western Australia and Queensland but we will be above 85 per cent,” he said. Mr Hunt said it was only a matter of time before everyone encounters the virus.

“The message to everybody, in Western Australia and Queensland ... is we presume at some point every Australian will be exposed to the virus and that means the absolute best protection is to ensure you are vaccinated,” he said. Supply of Moderna and Pfizer is now sufficient so every person who wants one can get vaccinated by the end of October.

Asked if he feared an escalation of cases once NSW opens its borders to international travel in November, Mr Hunt said he was confident high vaccination levels will safeguard us: “NSW is absolutely one of the most ­highly vaccinated societies in the world now,” he said.

‘Nervous’ bush MPs don’t want visitors yet

By Linda Silmalis

It comes as it was revealed unprecedented demand to travel together with lower vaccination rates in the bush was the reason behind the NSW Government decision to delay reg­ional travel.

Nervous regional MPs pushed the Government to hold off on allowing holiday-starved Sydneysiders from ­descending into regional areas where jab rates are still lagging behind the city.

NSW COVID-19 update – Saturday 16 October 2021

In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 91.7% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 78.8% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 66,311 tests pic.twitter.com/aWigP24cMZ

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 15, 2021

They’re also worried reg­ional hospitals won’t be able to cope with a breakout.

In popular tourist locations such as Byron Bay, flight bookings by the end of November are expected to be double from what they were before the pandemic as tourists take advantage of cheap flights being offended by regional ­airlines.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole yesterday. Picture: Adam Yip

Describing it as a “tough” decision to delay regional travel, Deputy Premier Paul Toole said more than 77 per cent of regional LGAs were expected to be fully vaccinated by November 1.

“We have looked at the health modelling and listened to feedback from regional communities who want more time to get their double dose vaccination rates up as high as possible before they welcome back visitors,” he said.

“We know businesses in ­regional NSW were getting ready to welcome people back, but it’s important we get this right so that when we re-open travel to the regions, they can remain open.”

Here’s cheers NSW! Dani Barona (left), Angela Osorio (centre) and Kate Alfonso enjoy catch-up drinks at The Clock in Surry Hills. Picture: Julian Andrews

Sydney night-life has opened up in its first week after lockdown. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Ballina MP Tamara Smith said she had been “very nervous” at the prospect of thousands of tourists descending on the electorate, which encompasses Byron Bay.

“In the Ballina local government area, 90 per cent of ­people have had their first jab and in Byron, 80 per cent,” the Greens MP said.

“That’s thousands of people who are unvaccinated or half-vaccinated. With a million of people coming, we need to know hospitals can manage.”

A rush on downloading the certificate to the NSW Services app site has been met with frustration.

Vax certificate won’t link

Businesses have welcomed the ability for Covid-19 digital vaccination certificates to be integrated into the Service NSW app.

But people are finding it hard to do so, with a great deal of frustration yesterday.

Since Monday, when vaccination status was required of patrons for entry, business had had to bear the responsibility of checking.

John Green, Director of Liquor and Policing at the NSW Australian Hotel’s Association said combining vaccination status with QR check-in will “take pressure off venue staff”.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello also sang its praises.

But yesterday, a rush on downloading the certificate to the NSW Services app site was met with frustration with people complaining it wasn’t working on Twitter.

“I’ve wasted a whole day trying to get this to work. I give up now,” one said.