NSW to ‘tweak’ reopening plan as state records 941 new cases

NSW has recorded 941 new local coronavirus cases as Gladys Berejiklian hinted at tweaking the reopening plan.

NSW has recorded 941 new Covid-19 cases after the Premier hinted at potential changes to the reopening roadmap.

The state is creeping closer to its 70 per cent double dose target which is expected to be met next week.

Once 70 per cent of the state’s eligible population has had two jabs, a number of restrictions will ease for those who are fully vaccinated.

The current percentage of people who have had at least one dose is 86.7, and for second doses the percentage is 62.9.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she wanted to “foreshadow” there could be some changes to the reopening roadmap, although she didn’t say what those changes would be.

She indicated some changes scheduled for December 1 could happen earlier, once the state fully vaccinates 80 per cent of its eligible population.

NSW recorded 941 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/J1Y6sCXesf

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) September 30, 2021

“I want to foreshadow, while we won't announce anything today, that the government is considering bringing some things forward to 80 per cent double dose,” she said.

“They won’t be major things but there will be tweaks. We’ll announce that at 70 per cent double dose.

“There are a number of people in the community who have asked us to consider certain things and (NSW) Health is considering those things and if it’s safe to do so we’ll be able to resume some of those activities at 80 per cent as opposed to December 1.”

Ms Berejiklian also said that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were now available for anyone over the age of 12.

“Anybody in NSW over the age of 12 is now able to receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine from their GP, pharmacist or a NSW health hub,” she said.

More than 900 cases were recorded. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Berejiklian also said the government was going ahead with plans to open schools back up a week early, so that classroom education would return once a milestone of 80 per cent full vaccination had been reached.

She said there would be a future announcement about what would happen if there was a coronavirus outbreak at a school.

“We want to avoid disruption as much as possible but when all the teachers are vaccinated, a larger proportion of 12 to 15-year-olds are vaccinated, (the outbreak protocols) will change, the way in which we deal with cases at school and there'll be further advice in relation to that,” she said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet also announced the NSW government would continue to contribute towards payments for businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions until November 30, the day before a range of restrictions will be eased, including for the unvaccinated.

Originally published as NSW to ‘tweak’ reopening plan as state records 941 new cases