NSW records 1257 new local Covid cases as fully vaccinated gain some freedoms

NSW has recorded 1257 new cases and seven deaths on the day fully vaccinated residents were given more freedoms.

NSW has recorded 1257 new local coronavirus cases as fully vaccinated residents get access to some new lockdown freedoms.

Seven people tragically died in the latest reporting period, ending at 8pm on Sunday.

Those included two men who acquired their infections in aged care facilities, one aged in his 70s and one in his 90s.

The man in his 90s was from Dubbo, and the other man from Sydney’s north west.

There were also two men and a woman from south western Sydney among the dead. One of the men was in his 90s and the other one in his 80s, while the woman was in her 60s.

A man in his 80s from central Sydney, and a woman in her 90s from Sydney’s inner west, also died.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian fronted reporters again. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of all those who died overnight,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

There have been a total of 184 deaths from the current outbreak, out of a total of 38,856 cases.

There are currently 1189 infected people in hospitals. Out of those, 222 people are in intensive care, 94 of whom are on ventilators.

Ms Berejiklian fronted reporters again on Monday, one day after a press conference that was billed as her “final” daily one.

But she denied she’d had a “change of heart”.

“I was always scheduled to do today because of the key milestone we announced – obviously today is the first day many people will have freedoms that didn’t have before,” she said.

More than 1200 people tested positive. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Monday is “picnic day” in the state, the day when those who have had two shots of a coronavirus vaccine can take advantage of relaxed rules on outdoor recreation.

For people outside of local government areas (LGAs) of concern, the rule changes on Monday will mean groups of five vaccinated people can gather together outside, as long as they’re all in their own LGA or within 5km of home.

For people in LGAs of concern, the rule changes will mean fully vaccinated adults can gather outside in pairs for one hour of recreation per day, as long as the gathering takes place between 5am and 9pm.

The rule changes were billed as a reward for those who had contributed to getting the state to six million total jabs. That milestone was reached in the last week of August.