NSW records 825 new local Covid-19 cases as Delta continues to spread

NSW has recorded 825 new cases of Covid-19 and three deaths as Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged residents ‘don’t be fussy’ on the vaccine.

A record-breaking 825 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in NSW and three more people have died.

It is the highest daily case number recorded in any state since the pandemic began, sailing past the 725 new cases recorded in Victoria on August 5, 2020.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned zero cases in the community was an “impossible task” with the Delta variant circulating and urged people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Just 149 of the new cases were linked to known clusters, with the origin of 676 infections under investigation.

There are currently 516 people in hospital with the virus, including 85 in intensive care and 29 on ventilators.

The three deaths announced on Saturday include a man in his 80s, a woman in her 90s, and a man in his 90s, who was fully vaccinated but had a number of pre-existing health conditions.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said zero Covid cases will be an “impossible task” with the Delta variant once lockdowns start to lift. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Ms Berejiklian said she had noticed a “change of attitude” in her conversations with other state premiers and in the community at large.

“We accept that Delta is here. We accept that heading to zero across the nation — especially once you open up and live freely — will be an impossible task,” she said.

“No matter how hard we work, no matter if 99 per cent of people are doing the right thing, there is an element of Delta that nobody can control.”

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard condemned a group of Sydnesiders who had attended a party in the south-east suburb of Maroubra last Saturday resulting in 16 new cases.

“There is no time now to be selfish, it's time to think of the broader community and your families,” Mr Hazzard said.

”If you are actually spreading the virus, you could be responsible for people’s deaths.”

Ms Berejiklian later said the attendees at the Maroubra party included a significant number of people who travelled from the 12 LGAs of “high concern” in Sydney’s west.

“People left those local government areas of concern and attended the gatherings in other areas illegally,” she said.

“(That’s) what shocked us most when we heard about (the party).”

NSW police are currently patrolling the streets of Sydney in anticipation of an anti-lockdown rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone.

Ms Berejiklian urged NSW residents to get vaccinated, applauding the 124,000 people that came forward to get the jab in the past 24 hours.

“The best way we can look forward to freedom is by making sure that we get vaccinated,” she said.

NSW is now at 55 per cent with a first dose and nearly 30 per cent fully vaccinated.

“At this stage, if current rates of vaccination continue, NSW will get to 70 per cent double doses by the end of October and 80 per cent double doses by mid-November,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Everybody should get the vaccine now,” she said.

“Don't be fussy on the vaccine. Go forth and get your vaccine with any vaccine offered to you.”