NSW Covid updates: 753 cases as state hits 6 million vaccinations

Gladys Berejiklian has refused to confirm if the extra levels of freedom promised at a vaccination milestone will include the hot spot LGAs. It comes as NSW recorded 753 new Covid cases. Read Tuesday's live blog.

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NSW has reached its first vaccine milestone of six million jabs delivered as the state recorded 753 new Covid cases and no further deaths.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would announce on "Thursday or Friday" what extra freedom fully vaccinated NSW residents would be given from September as a result.

Ms Berejiklian said getting to six million jabs was "an amazing milestone."

"That equates to 60 per cent of our population across the state with at least one dose and around 30 per cent of the population double dosed," she said.

Read Tuesday's live blog.

Updates

12:55 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

'Record day' for ACT cases

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Canberra's "record day" of Covid cases serves as a warning for locals, the Chief Minister has warned.

Andrew Barr told Canberrans at today's Covid update he knew the 30 new cases, the territory's highest yet, would cause "concern" but the numbers only proved how infectious the Delta variant is.

"Now I know that these case numbers today will cause concern, it is a record day of cases for the ACT," Mr Barr said.

"It confirms what we know, that the Delta strain of this virus is highly infectious, if you contract the virus, it is highly likely that all the people you live with and the people that you work closely with will also contract the virus."

He said it was "absolutely critical" people know when to self-isolate, and shared while the ACT leads Australia on vax rates, now wasn't the time to ease up.

He said all policy decisions would factor vaccination rates for everyone over 12 years old despite no clear path for vaccination of young teens in Australia yet.

"The ACT will be striving for much more than 80%, and we will be including in our goals all those currently eligible for vaccination," Mr Barr said.

"This will figure in our decision-making on what future public health settings will look like."

Exposure sites in the ACT now have hit 400 places, while four people are hospitalised and one is in ICU.

12:48 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

ACT records 30 new cases

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The nation's capital has recorded 30 new local cases of Covid-19.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said 25 are linked to the existing cases, five still remain under investigation.

Of the 30 new cases, 13 were in quarantine during their entire infectious period, and from the remaining 17 officials think 11 were infectious in the community.

ACT COVID-19 update (24 Aug 2021)

◾New cases today: 30
◾Active cases: 167
◾Negative test results (past 24 hours): 2,411
◾In hospital: 4
◾COVID-19 vaccinations in the ACT: 61.7% received first dose, 38.1% received second dose

For more info: https://t.co/YGW9pOHG3e pic.twitter.com/SCMhROohQ8

— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 24, 2021

12:42 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

VIC's Covid case breakdown

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Of Victoria's 50 new local cases:

• Twelve linked to Newport, Altona North and Wyndham;
  
  • Seven linked to Shepparton;
  
  • Six linked to MyCentre childcare in Broadmeadows;
  
  • Six are primary close contacts who tested positive on their day 13 tests;
  
  • Four linked to Royal Melbourne Hospital;
  
  • Two primary close contacts of a Royal Children’s Hospital worker; and
  
  • Ten mystery cases that since been linked to outbreaks — four in Newport; three to Carlton/Fitzroy North; two in Thomastown and one in Southbank.

56 guests who went to an engagement part in Melbourne have also been fined more than $300,000 in total.

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

12:41 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

VIC ramps up vax push

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Victorians aged 16 and above will be eligible for a Covid jab at state-run vaccine centres from Wednesday amid a raft of changes to the state's jab program.

In VIC, from 7am on Wednesday, anyone aged 16-59 can get Pfizer, with over 830,000 appointments being set up at 55 vaccination centres available in the next month.

Daniel Andrews also shared anyone aged between 18 and 39 with an AstraZeneca booking would be eligible to instead receive Pfizer, but there was no need to change or cancel their booking due to 450,000 first doses of the vaccine arriving from Poland

"“The best vaccine you can get is the one that you can get today,” the Premier said.
“We’ve already delivered more than 230,000 doses towards our one million have target which is a mammoth effort.
“But please, if you haven’t had your vaccination yet, just book it in today to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

It comes as VIC recorded 50 new Covid cases, with 34 people in hospital, nine in ICU and seven on
ventilators.
The state has 522 active cases, including 113 between 0 and 9 years old, 101 are between 10 and 19, and 92 are between 20 and 29.

12:33 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

Barilaro might seek ban on Sydney workers travelling

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

The deputy premier has hinted he could look to see construction workers from Sydney banned from working in regional NSW after several tested positive in rural communities.

"We've had a number of cases with construction workers in regional settings in Orange and Coffs Harbour and other settings, the Costco site at Toronto," Mr Barilaro said.

"We've got to allow those industries to continue, we've got strict requirements on industry in relation to testing and vaccination."

But he added he would see action if the problem continued.

"Of course everything is up for consideration, if it continues to pose a great risk to the regions. It's something I'll take back to Crisis Cabinet."

12:31 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

Today's lower numbers 'not a trend'

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Dr Kerry Chant has warned daily case numbers will potentially rise again despite NSW recording two consecutive days of lower case numbers.

"One day isn't a trend," Dr Chant said before adding: "No, we are here for the long haul. I'd love to believe that we are on the trend down. That would give me joy."

She said it would take weeks for the impact of mass vaccination to be reflected in the daily numbers.

"One day is not a trend, we all have to work so hard over these next weeks, I don't expect to see the impact of the vaccine, so let's be clear, the impact of vaccination takes a while. It takes at least two to three weeks for vaccines to work," Dr Chant said.

"We're not expecting to see the impact (of mass vaxxes in southwest Sydney) until mid September."

She added: "I wouldn't be surprised, notwithstanding the fact that I want them to be going down, if we see an uptick over the coming days."

12:27 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

'Complex' decisions ahead on industry return

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

'Complex' decision need to be made to allow workers in industries who have close contact with customers to go ahead, the Premier has claimed.

When asked if fully vaccinated workers and clients would be allowed to have contact in areas like beauty and hospitality, Gladys Berejiklian said: "There are complex policy decisions need to go through but when you are trying to prevent any superspreading event, there is greater risk attached to one person having contact with multiple people."

She added: "We are considering Dr Chant's advice in relation to extra freedoms that might come away, which is critical, and consulted the public health teams and a chief psychiatrist to make sure he gives us his advice on what are the most important things in terms of a wellbeing and mental health perspective people want to do."

12:09 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

Gladys keeps quiet on schools plan

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

Work is underway on a plan to get kids back into classrooms but Gladys Berejiklian won't yet say what.

"I won't preempt what we will say about schools until later this week," Ms Berejiklian said at today's Covid update.

"There are conversations with stakeholders and sectors including the independent and Catholic sectors… We are working on our plan as to what school looks like returning."

The premier said she wouldn't send kids back unless Dr Kerry Chant OKed it.

"We have never taken a decision in New South Wales which is considered as contradicting the health advice," Ms Berejiklian said.

She added: " My message to everyone is it if you want to get back to normal, get your vaccine. It is your choice if you don't but we can say in the strongest possible terms that if you want to do some thing (in future), vaccination will be key as part of that process."

12:07 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

Dubbo cases in ICU

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

A number of cases in NSW's far west are now in ICU, Dr Chant has shared.

The CHO said authorities were watching Wilcannia closely too, and urged local communities to "respond" and get the jab over continued fears the Delta strain will keep spreading in vulnerable communities.

"We have cases requiring intensive care in Dubbo. We are very watchful and supporting clinical services in Wilcannia," Dr Chant said.

"The Dubbo community and Wilcannia community are our key priorities in that area. We urge the
community to respond. Everyone has to do their part."

She also called on locals in Parkes, Mudgee and Bathurst to take up the vaccines offered in their area.

"We have had positive cases in a number of those communities and it's critical people take up vaccination," Dr Chant said.

12:04 pm August 24, 2021 Highlight

Dr Chant pushes to vaccinate the vulnerable

Kaitlyn Hudson-O'Farrell

A higher rate of vaccination for homeless communities and disadvantaged groups is next on Dr Kerry Chant's list.

"What we're looking at now, the focus of our vaccination strategy has been to lift the inequity in vaccination coverage," Dr Chant said.

"There's room to move… COVID has taught us that it seeks out areas with socio-economic disadvantage. (Let's) vaccinate in social housing, vaccinate our disadvantaged, homeless communities."