Coronavirus: NSW jab target ‘a week ahead’ amid 818 new cases

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a record 738,000 residents were vaccinated in NSW last week as she announced three deaths.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during a COVID-19 press conference in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

NSW has recorded 818 locally acquired cases of Covid-19, with at least 42 people infectious in the community.

There were three deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, including two males and one female in their 80s, all of whom had underlying health conditions.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a record 738,000 residents were vaccinated in NSW last week.

“This is an outstanding result. I want to thank everybody for coming forward. We are up to 5.9 million jabs in New South Wales. I set a target of six million by the end of the month. We will be at least one week ahead of schedule. I am pleased everyone heard the call.”

Ms Berejiklian said the suburbs of Guildford, Auburn, Greystanes and Blacktown remain key areas of concern.

NSW recorded 818 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of these locally acquired cases, 120 are linked to a known case or cluster – 94 are household contacts & 26 are close contacts – & the source of infection for 698 is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/Dgm4sWNMXH

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 23, 2021

Ms Berejiklian again emphasised that “Covid zero” was no longer a feasible goal for NSW, urging residents to embrace the vaccination rollout.

“I know what NSW is going through is challenging, and I hope we never experience this in our lifetime again, but every state will have to go through the transition of going back to normality,” she said.

“While our transition perhaps sooner and more starker than we had envisaged, once you get to 80 per cent double dose, every state will have to live with Covid. You cannot keep Delta out forever. You cannot assume there will be zero cases even if you had zero cases today.”

Deputy chief health officer Marianne Gale again called on the 12 LGAs of concern in South Western and Western Sydney to remain vigilant, follow the health orders and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Currently, there are 586 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 100 patients currently in intensive care, of whom 32 required ventilation.

Of the 100 cases in ICU, 87 of those patients are not vaccinated, while the remainder have had their first dose of vaccine.

In the state’s west, there were 24 Covid-19 cases recorded overnight, including 14 in Dubbo, six in Cobar, and one case each in Parkes, Mudgee, Orange and Wilcannia.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the state could not afford to have vaccination rates in the regions fall behind the rest of the state.

“We want to make sure that the state average stays there in relation to vaccination. Don’t get caught up in the brand debate (on vaccines). Book a vaccination, no matter which one.”

Fragments of Covid-19 have been detected in the Bateau Bay and Cobar sewerage treatment plants, with health officials asking local residents to come forward for testing.

Nepean Hospital ICU specialist Huong Nguyen said the state’s hospitals were continuing to feel the strain of increased admissions.

“We are worried about the increasing number of patients who are admitted to the wards, because we know at some stage they will need the intensive care team’s care.”

“It isn’t a good day when you need to meet that ICU team. We would much prefer to never meet you and your families,” said Dr Nguyen.

Dr Nguyen said the Delta variant is causing longer stays in ICU, with patients requiring a level of care that cannot be provided in other hospital wards.

“There are those who are on breathing machines and on heart and lung machines. What is really worrying now is the number of young patients who are coming in ... up to 25 per cent have been younger than 40.”

Asked if there were delays in processing testing results in Wilcannia, Mr Barilaro said there were some issues with one of the state’s testing contractors in the area.

“I don’t know the contractual arrangements but I know that we use private labs. Our pathology labs are under stress, so we do use private providers.”

“The arrangements are one for NSW Health, but regardless, the answer is that we got those test results, we got them overnight,” he said.