NSW records 8201 new Covid-19 infections and 16 deaths

NSW has recorded a spike in Covid-19 infections with 8201 new cases and 16 deaths on Tuesday.

NSW recorded 8201 new cases of Covid-19 and 16 deaths on Monday as Premier Dominic Perrottet announces a plan to boost local manufacturing as part of the state’s economic recovery.

Tuesday’s update from NSW Health is a small spike in infections after the state recorded 6184 cases on Monday and 6686 on Sunday.

However, hospitalisations are dropping with 1583 patients now in hospital, with 96 in ICU.

Of Tuesday’s 8201 tests, 6741 were from rapid antigen tests and 1460 were the result of PCR.

Across the state, 94.2 per cent of people aged over 16 have had two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 48.5 per cent are triple vaccinated.

Meanwhile, 83.5 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 have had one dose of a vaccine and 78.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of children aged five to 11, 45.5 per cent have received a Covid-19 jab.

Mr Perrottet has announced a $70 million contract for western Sydney business for Custom Denning to deliver 79 electric buses. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Perrottet on Monday revealed a $70 million contract for western Sydney business for Custom Denning to deliver 79 electric buses from its St Marys factory.

The contract is set to create 40 apprenticeships as local manufacturing becomes a “substantial focus” of the government.

“This is all about creating local jobs for local people to help our local communities thrive,” Mr Perrottet said on Monday.

The Premier has defended his decisions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, saying they may not have been popular, but “have been right”.

“Ultimately, when you’re in a pandemic, you’re going to make decisions from time to time that are unpopular,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Our job here as a government is to take our state through and we’re doing that.”

While the Premier said it was important for him to not “follow the populist approach”, opening up in December was still the right thing to do.

“It’s brought its challenges,” he conceded.

“We had a highly furloughed workforce with a highly transmissible variant. We didn‘t just see that in New South Wales. We saw that around the country.

“But it’s still the right approach and I know that brings concerns in the short term, but it’s the right approach in the long term.”