The ACT has recorded 30 new Covid cases overnight, with only 13 in quarantine for their entire infectious period.
Live Breaking News: New freedom coming for NSW as six million vaccination target met
NSW is facing another bleak day of exploding case numbers, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming another 753 new cases overnight.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had some words of caution for those who might see today's slight drop in case numbers as a sign the crisis is on its way out.
"We always say there is no way you can get a trend from a day," she said.
"What we are focused on is, I don’t want people to ride the rollercoaster of emotions on the case numbers every day.
"Let’s focus on the vaccine rates because that is what will determine how we can live moving forward."
However, there is some good news for the embattled state, with the six million vaccination target already met and Pfizer jabs opening for thousands more young people in Sydney from today.
Read on for the latest NSW Covid news and updates. You can find our Victorian Covid blog here.
Updates
Another 30 cases in the ACT
'One day is not a trend'
Dr Chant has doubled down on the Premier's insistence that today's slight drop in numbers does not mean we have reached the peak.
"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.
"…but one day is not a trend. We all have to work so hard over these next weeks.
"The impact of vaccination takes a while. It takes at least two to three weeks for vaccines to work.
"The impact on transmission will not appear for two to three weeks. We are seeing some impact from vaccines given three weeks ago. Gradually, those ramped up numbers."
Key to keeping NSW safe
Dr Kerry Chant has revealed the key factor which will protect the state.
"The other issue I'd like to say — and this is a really key point — we are only as safe if we protect our vulnerables in our community," she said.
"And our vulnerables — I use the definition of our aged care residents, our disability home [care] residents but also the people that live in large households, that don't have the option of working from home, that have underlying health conditions, that have complex interactions, maybe live across multiple households.
"We have to protect our mental health, our drug and alcohol patients, our people in correctional settings, juvenile justice. So my 80 per cent means, I want a strong equity focus across that vaccination coverage and we need to have it very high across the population uniformly."
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'God help us': CHO's biggest fear
NSW CHO Dr Kerry Chant has given a sobering assessment of what the years ahead could bring, insisting that Covid was an unpredictable beast.
"The world is grappling with how we co-exist with Covid and the virus may throw us curve balls," she said.
"You know, we've got the Delta variant.
"God help us if we have another variant.
"This is not a one-size-fits all."
We may need masks 'for years'
NSW CHO has given an outline of what life might look like as we transition to living with Covid-19.
"It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings," she said.
"We may have factors that you're only permitted to go to certain high risk venues if you're vaccinated and show proof of vaccination."
41 new cases in NZ
Let's jump across to New Zealand for a second, with the nation recorded 41 new Covid cases overnight.
It brings the total number of cases linked to the Auckland outbreak to 148.
Delta rips through regions
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has given an update on the spread of Cov through regional NSW.
"Good morning and Western New South Wales continues to be an area of concern with 36 cases overnight. 23 cases were in Dubbo. Five in Parkes, two in Bourke, and in the Wellington local government area there are also two cases," he said today.
"Coonamble one [case], Gilgandra two cases and one in Narromine. In the far west, as of 8pm, 14 cases in Wilcannia and again our message to anyone that has visited Wilcannia or is in Wilcannia is to get tested regardless of symptoms or not. It continues to be an area of concern in the far west and we will keep focusing on that.
"In the Hunter New England LHD, there was one new case in Newcastle LGA, previously attached to the aged care cluster.
"The Illawarra Shoalhaven area had three cases, all three in the Wollongong local government. The Central Coast also three cases."
Drop in cases doesn't mean worst is over
Ms Berejiklian had some words of caution for those who might see today's drop in case numbers as a sign the crisis is on its way out.
"We always say there is no way you can get a trend from a day," she said.
"What we are focused on is, I don’t want people to ride the rollercoaster of emotions on the case numbers every day.
"Let’s focus on the vaccine rates because that is what will determine how we can live moving forward."
New challenge for NSW
Authorities are trying to jazz up the vaccination process, and have asked those coming forward for their jab this weekend to do so in their favourite team's colours.
They're then asked to snap and share a "vaxxie" (vaccination selfie) to see which code wins.
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