NSW Covid update: 239 new local cases amid new restrictions
NSW has reported 239 Covid cases on Sunday amid the state’s escalating Delta variant outbreak in Greater Sydney.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NSW recorded 239 new local Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday, equaling the grim record from Thursday.
The cases came from almost 88,000 tests.
At least 35 cases were in the community for the entire infectious period. The isolation status of 98 cases remains a mystery.
There were 21,342 vaccine doses administered yesterday.
It was also revealed that there is a Covid outbreak at an aged-care facility in Summer Hill with nine residents affected – some of whom have not been vaccinated.
NSW Ministry of Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty said 222 people are currently in hospital with Covid-19 across NSW.
“Of the 55 in ICU, seven are in their 20s, five are in their 30s, two in their 40s, six in their 50s, 14 in that 60s and 10 in their 70s,” he said.
“It shows that the disease can be very serious in younger people as well is older people.
“We are concerned about young people, particularly 18 to 39-year-olds are driving a lot of the epidemic.
“We are seeing cases at high rates in those age group. This is the age group that tends to be a link between kids, younger people, and older, elderly relatives.
“They are working, they have big social networks, if you are in that age group it is important that you be aware that you are very vulnerable to the infection, as we have seen in ICU numbers, you can get serious disease.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian called on Sydneysiders to get vaccinated as soon as possible under a goal to reach a national vaccination rate of 80 per cent.
“Today is August 1 and I am calling upon the people of Greater Sydney and greater NSW to come forward and get vaccinated,” she said.
“To get to the 70 per cent target we need 9.2 million jabs, to get the 80 per cent target we need 10 million jabs.”
Meanwhile, Police were allegedly assaulted and five men arrested after breaking up a house party in Sydney’s locked-down west.
Officers undertaking Covid-19 compliance operations visited a home on Unicombe Cres, Oakhurst just after 4pm on Saturday, after receiving reports a party was underway there.
A group of males was spotted drinking inside a garage at the home, according to officers attached to the Mt Druitt Police Area Command.
Police allege the men refused to produce identification when asked by police.
After informing the men of the possible Covid breach, the home’s occupant, a 44-year-old man, allegedly pushed an officer in the chest.
Police said that while officers were arresting the man, four male visitors allegedly became violent and attempted to hinder them.
Police then used pepper stray on the group.
All five men were arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station.
The 44-year-old was charged with two counts of intimidate police officer in execution of duty, assault police officer, resist officer, and not comply with Noticed Direction COVID-19.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on August 11.
A 32-year-old man from Mt Druitt was charged with assault police officer, resist/hinder officer, and not comply with Noticed Direction COVID-19.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on August 18.
A 33-year-old man from Leonay, and a 38-year-old man from Rooty Hill, were charged with resist officer, resist/ hinder officer, and not comply with Noticed Direction COVID-19.
The 33-year-old was refused bail and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
The 38-year-old was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on August 18.
A 30-year-old man from Hassell Grove was charged with resist/hinder officer and not comply with Noticed Direction COVID-19.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on August 11.
Police said the officers sustained minor injuries.
POLICE STOP QUAD BIKE RIDERS
On Saturday afternoon, police in Sydney’s west also arrested a man for possession of an unauthorised pistol and breaching health orders after coming across two men riding quad bikes in Londonderry.
After speaking with the men, police established they lived in the Blacktown LGA and were in breach of the current Public Health Orders.
They also searched a white Toyota HiLux and allegedly found a black Glock-17 gel blaster air pistol inside a bag on the front seat.
A 25-year-old Kellyville Ridge man was charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing an unregistered firearm-pistol and not complying with health orders.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
A 22-year-old from South Granville was fined $1,000 fine for breaching health orders.
Norco milk truck and ute collide in chaotic morning crash
A Norco milk truck and a ute have collided on a major roadway near Coffs Harbour, with emergency services workers frantically trying to free the trapped truck driver.
Read more
Cops escort Jewish schoolchildren amid Sydney terror threat
Young Jewish students returned to school on Friday as police officers watched on outside the gates, as the alleged intended targets of a suspected terror plot have been revealed.
Read more