Live Breaking News: NSW restrictions to ease as infections surge

The Premier has announced extra freedoms for fully vaccinated residents, as NSW confirms another record day of infections.

Ally Foster

@allyjfoster

less than 2 min read

August 26, 2021 - 2:03PM

NSW records three deaths amid record COVID cases

NSW has reached a grim new Covid-19 record, with 1029 cases and three deaths confirmed on Thursday.

Despite the spike in infections, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a raft of easing restrictions for vaccinated residents surrounding outdoor gatherings, which will come into effect on September 13.

A number of other restrictions will also ease from next week, with rules around funerals, single bubbles and real estate to change from Monday.

Follow along below for more NSW's updates. You can find yesterday's blog here.

Updates

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This blog is now closed. For the latest updates, head here.

ScoMo to green light Pfizer for kids

Children aged 12 and over will soon be able to receive a Covid-19 jab.

Senior members of the government are meeting on Thursday to discuss the plan to get schoolkids vaccinated.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the national security committee would meet with the head of the vaccine task force to discuss the next steps.

“12 to 15 year old is in Australia will be vaccinated,” he said.

“Later today the national security committee of cabinet, which meets on covid matters specifically, will be considering that plan.

“You can see that when we can get 1.8 million doses in just a week, then the task of ensuring that we can also in parallel vaccinate 1.2 million 12 to 15-year-olds and achieve the level that we would need to achieve there.

“That is a task that is certainly well within the capability of the vaccination program.”

– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire

Mandatory vaccines for health care staff

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Health Minister Brad Hazzard has announced Covid-19 vaccines will be mandatory for health staff in state run facilities.

Mr Hazzard announced he had signed the health orders as the NSW press conference was drawing to a close.

Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

"Can I also add one final thing? That is that I have just signed orders this morning which ensure that the medical staff in our hospitals will be required to get vaccinated. And, of course, also sign the orders that the Federal Government have asked to be signed in regards to aged care," he said.

"Again, it will be mandatory for staff, except with medical conditions and related matters, to actually get vaccinated. And I just ask all of our staff who haven’t yet been vaccinated – the majority have – please get out and take an opportunity to get vaccinated as well.

"Because it’s absolutely critical that each one of the health staff look after themselves, as Dr Skinner said – they’re all obviously exposed to the challenges in that regard. And looking after patients. And the safest thing you can do is to get vaccinated."

'Every state will have to deal with Delta'

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian said every state and territory will have to deal with the Delta strain of Covid-19 when the country starts to reopen.

"Every state, NSW has had to deal with this in a very stark way, but every state, once they get up to 70 and 80 per cent (vaccination rate), every state will deal with Delta. Every state will have to deal with the fact that you will have more cases," she said.

"As I keep saying, the most important statistics for us to focus on are the high rates of vaccine and the number of people we keep out of hospital. That is really important moving forward."

Backyards don't count as outdoor gatherings

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that backyards don't count as gathering outdoors.

"Nobody from outside the household anywhere in the state is allowed into a household. I'll make that clear," she said.

"Because of the restrictions in place and the fact we want to get case numbers down and the curve to turn, we can't allow anybody outside a household no matter whether you have no virus in your community, the risk is still there."

What will stop people from taking advantage of the rules?

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Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has been asked what measures will be in place to stop people living in those LGAs of concern from claiming they are from the same household when they are not.

"It is very easy to see people are within household and we have to appreciate the genuine mental health impacts. This is about an hour of time within household to sit there and have a picnic," she said.

"Police have been consulted on this. If there is any issues of noncompliance or is causing issues, of course, government has always changed its mind but as the premier has said repeatedly, we have to give the committee the benefit of the doubt.

"The vast majority of people in the community do not want to see their loved ones subject to Covid-19 and are doing all they can."

How do extra freedoms work with cases still rising?

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Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has asked how she can be confident allowing vaccinated residents extra freedoms from September 13 when NSW may not have even reached the peak of the outbreak yet.

Dr Chant said recognising the mental health impacts of lockdown was one of the major factors that influenced the decision to introduce the extra freedoms.

"By then, in September, the weather will be a nice time, and we know that outdoor spaces are less risk. What we're doing is also incentivising vaccination, because to avail yourself of this you have to be vaccinated.

"And again, in the local areas of concern, we've taken the precaution that is just open to the household group. And, again, it's a thankyou to the community.

"I think we have to, at this difficult time, say to the community it can be different and you have increased your vaccination coverage, and this is about rewarding the community in a way that is very safe."

Dr Chant said the daily case numbers are influenced by every action that each individual takes and depend on whether people follow the rules.

"I think, to be perfectly frank, these steps are baby steps, recognising the serious situation we are in, and I think it's important that we are allowing those interactions, that human interaction in an outdoor space, fully vaccinated adults, outside those local government areas of concern," she said.

NSW covid peak may still be looming

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Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has warned cases will likely continue to rise and the state may not have reached the peak of the outbreak yet.

"My advice to government that the case numbers may well continue to go up before we see the trajectory of downward transmission," she said.

"As I said, the factors that go into that model is how we’re adhering to the mobility restrictions, how we’re individually behaving.

"We have seen some deterioration in some of those metrics because people are obviously feeling so tired and frustrated with the length and duration of the restrictions."

People urged to seek medical help

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Residents who are suffering from Covid-19 symptoms have been urged to seek medical care if they need it and not to put it off.

Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Dr Clare Skinner, said health workers are concerned that some people may be avoiding urgent medical care.

"And while the system is under pressure, we’re doing everything we can to make sure the care is there for you when you need it," Dr Skinner said.

"So, if you have an emergency, please come to the emergency department. We’ve got a pandemic plan.

We’ve got the department to keep you safe. We’ve got full infection protocols in place and we’re all wearing personal protective equipment.

"If you have another matter, please see your GP. Again, there are measures in place to seek urgent care, so please don’t delay.

"I think everyone said thankyou to the healthcare workers, but this is not about healthcare workers.

"This is about all of us and what healthcare workers would like is for the community to pull together with us, because we really need your help flattening the pandemic curve.

"So, please, follow the distancing rules. We know they’re tough but you’re doing a great job. Please get vaccinated. Please wear a mask. And please, if you have any symptoms at all, can you seek testing and care as soon as possible."