Covid-19 NSW: State records 273 new virus cases

Another 273 new cases of Covid have been recorded in NSW a day after residents woke to new freedoms.

NSW has recorded 273 new cases of Covid-19 and four deaths.

The new figures came a day after a raft of new freedoms were granted to fully vaccinated residents after the state surpassed the 80 per cent double-dose milestone.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday praised the state’s high vaccination levels but warned the journey was not over in the battle against the virus.

He confirmed that health advice suggested case numbers would rise as mobility levels increased due to relaxed public health measures as the state moved out of lockdown.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said transitioning out of lockdown would be a challenge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“That will be a challenge for our state, but our health system is very strong,” he said.

“Obviously, we expect hospitalisations to increase as well, but that’s why we need everybody to keep looking after each other. This is not over. There’s a long journey to go.”

Tuesday’s deaths included three men and one woman.

Three people were in their 60s and one person was in their 80s.

NSW COVID-19 update – Tuesday 19 October 2021
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 92.1% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 80.8% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/hewCu5K7XG

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 18, 2021

They were from Sydney’s northern beaches, southwest Sydney, inner Sydney and Wollongong.

There are 589 cases in hospital with 128 people in intensive care, 69 of whom are on a ventilator.

As of midnight on Sunday, 92.1 per cent of eligible people had had their first dose of the Covid vaccine and 80.8 per cent were fully vaccinated.