Gladys Berejiklian announces 239 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases in NSW

Authorities have mentioned the places where Covid-19 is being spread the most, with one group on notice, as Sydney’s outbreak grows.

NSW Health officials have put young residents on notice as the group who is driving the state’s Covid-19 outbreak, due to them working more and having larger social networks.

The announcement came after NSW recorded 239 new local cases on Sunday, the equal highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began.

Concerningly, at least 35 were active in the community while infectious, Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed, with at least 61 were in the community for all or part of their infectious period. The source of more than half of the new infections is under investigation.

NSW Ministry of Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty said residents younger than 30 were contributing heavily to the growing numbers, citing the fact there are seven people aged in their 20s in intensive care with Covid-19.

“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.”

Ms Berejiklian added those in workplaces and households continued to be a problem spreading and circulating the virus, calling it a “consistent trend”.

“Workplaces are a constant place where adults are taking the disease, passing it onto other workers and having it spread to other suburbs and we need to stop that”.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian emphasised that August was a crucial month for NSW to get vaccinated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Of the new infections on Sunday, 115 were linked to a known case or cluster – 92 were household contacts and 23 were close contacts – while the source of infection for 124 cases is under investigation.

Frustration is reportedly growing among younger NSW residents about not being able to access vaccines despite being repeatedly told to get the jab.

Ms Berejiklian reiterated the health advice for young people was that both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs were safe.

“The NSW government always follows the advice of the federal health authorities,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Health advice in NSW is that if you are over 18, it is safe to get either vaccine. That is a strong health advice.”

Ms Berejiklian was asked if she was aware of anecdotal reports of GPs telling NSW residents in their 20s and 30s to wait for the Pfizer immunisation.

“I‘d be concerned if that was the case,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“But that is the advice provided to NSW and greater Sydney. Greater Sydney is going through an outbreak and that is the best health advice. If people have concerns, speak to your GP.”

There were 87,712 Covid-19 tests reported overnight, and NSW Health also administered 21,342 Covid-19 vaccines in the past 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, including 8505 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

NSW Health also confirmed the death of a man in his 60s, who was a Covid-19 case announced on Saturday.

“He was a resident of southwestern Sydney and died at home,” NSW Health said in a statement.

Several public transport routes have been listed as Covid-19 exposure sites overnight. Picture: David Swift

“NSW Health extends its sincere condolences to his family and friends. This is the 70th death in NSW related to Covid-19 and the 14th of the current outbreak.”

Of the 239 locally acquired cases, 110 were from southwest Sydney, 51 were from western Sydney, 69 were from inner Sydney, three were southeast Sydney, four were from northern Sydney, and two were from the Nepean/Blue Mountains area.

There are currently 222 cases in hospital – 54 of those were in intensive care, with 25 requiring ventilation.

Ms Berejiklian stressed August was the month she wanted to see the majority of the state vaccinated.

“Our strategy for NSW is to get vaccination rates to 60, or 70, or 80 per cent,” she said.

“That means we can live with the Delta variant and we won't have to go in and out of lockdown.

“No place earth can live with the Delta variant without having some kind of restriction.”