Smiling student cut down by Covid

Adriana Midori Takara is one of the youngest people in Australia to die from Covid-19.

Adriana Midori Takara did not suffer from any underlying medical condition and was only diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

Adriana Midori Takara arrived from Brazil about two years ago to study accounting and, all things going well, become an Australian citizen.

But the bright 38-year-old has instead become one of the youngest people in the country to die from Covid-19, nine days after contracting the virus as it spread across Sydney.

Ms Takara did not suffer from any underlying medical condition, a fact seized on by health officials, who are urging a quick uptake of vaccines.

Of 141 people in hospital with Covid-19 in NSW, 28 are under the age of 35. Of those in intensive care, one is in their teens, seven are in their 20s and three are in their 30s.

“If anybody thinks this is a disease just affecting older people, please think again,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. “Please note that younger people without pre-existing conditions can also fall victim to this cruel disease.”

Adriana Midori Takara. Picture: Facebook

There have now been eight deaths – including a woman aged in her 70s reported on Sunday – linked to the current outbreak in Sydney.

NSW recorded 141 new cases on Sunday, the overwhelming number in Sydney’s southwest.

South Australia recorded three new cases while Victoria had 11 new locally acquired infections. All were isolating.

Marlene Coimbra, who assisted Ms Takara when she came to Australia to study, said she was “shattered” by the death of her friend. “How can a healthy young woman be finished (by Covid-19)?” Ms ­Coimbra said.

“She was a young girl, she was 38 but she looked younger, she had this good nature.

“She was a smiling girl and very dedicated to her books, she worked hard, but look what happened to her,” she said.

Ms Coimbra said Ms Takara had suffered severely after contracting the virus.

“She was not getting better, she was having more and more complications,” she said.

“They called the brother to go there to say goodbye for the last time.”

Ms Berejiklian urged everyone who was able to seek a vaccination after the commonwealth expert panel changed its advice for residents of Sydney.

On Saturday, and after several days of criticism, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation said all adults in Greater Sydney should “strongly consider” getting vaccinated, including with AstraZeneca if not eligible for Pfizer.

“A single dose of … AstraZeneca partially reduces transmission by around half and therefore may also benefit close contacts and the community,” ATAGI said in its statement.

“It should be noted that there is a delay of 2-3 weeks after receiving a first dose of vaccine and being protected from Covid-19.”

“One thing we also know with this cruel Delta strain, which is what we are dealing with, is that even one dose of the vaccine not only gives you personal protection, it also reduces your chances of passing the disease on to others,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“And that’s why during the Delta outbreak, higher vaccination rates, even of the first dose, slow the spread down. It won’t stop the spread alone, but will definitely, definitely slow the spread down.”