NSW has reported 199 new local coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as the state government says it is exploring opportunities to encourage vaccine uptake to reach its 6 million target by August 28.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there was concern about vaccination rates in the eight local government areas under tighter restrictions in Sydney’s west and south-west.
“It’s really critical to have our communities in those eight local government areas take up the opportunity for vaccination,” she said.
There have been 3.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in NSW. The state government’s 50 per cent vaccination goal to ease restrictions in Greater Sydney on August 29 means it will need to hit 6 million shots by the end of the month.
The Premier said the government was “keen to explore” opportunities to encourage vaccination and would consider reopening industries in Greater Sydney, such as construction, based on vaccination rates.
“We’re focusing on what we believe people want at this stage: they want peace of mind that they can move more freely, send their kids to school, work,” she said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian arrives at Tuesday morning’s COVID-19 update. Credit:Nick Moir
“Any incentives around those things we think are great motivators.”
COVID-19 is continuing to circulate among households and essential workplaces in the local government areas of Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said people in Strathfield, Burwood, Camden, Inner West, Penrith and Bayside local government areas should also be particularly alert, noting the virus “has the ability to creep”.
There were 104,000 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.
There are 53 people in intensive care units in NSW, including 43 who have not received a single dose of vaccine. Twenty are ventilated.
“I look at the vaccine coverage data every night, which is on the Commonwealth website, and it really is quite tragic that we’ve got still people in their 90s that are unprotected – people in their 80s, 70s and 60s,” Dr Chant said.
The intensive case cases include five people in their 20s, six in their 30s, three in their 40s, 18 in their 50s, 11 in their 60s and 10 in their 70s.
A 19th resident at Wyoming Summer Hill aged care home tested positive on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections associated with the facility to 21.
The virus was introduced into the facility by an assistant in nursing, contracted by an agency, who worked across three facilities.
Dr Chant urged providers to limit their use of agency staff to the same workers, adding they should be making sure their agency staff have access to vaccination “immediately”.
A fully vaccinated staff member at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital has also tested positive after working for three days while infectious. Thirty-six hospital workers have been identified as close contacts and are in two-week isolation.
A spokesperson for Western Sydney Local Health District said investigations into the source of the infection indicated the worker contracted the virus in the community.
“The affected areas have been deep cleaned and there has been no further transmission associated with this case to date,” the spokesperson said.
“Patient care has not been affected. Our highest priority is always the safety of patients and our staff.”
It is the second healthcare worker at Westmead Hospital to test positive in NSW’s latest outbreak, after a fully vaccinated nurse contracted the virus in July. There was no onward transmission from the case.
NSW Health suspended all non-urgent surgery in Greater Sydney’s hospitals, excluding the Illawarra and Central Coast districts, last week.
New exposure sites announced by NSW Health on Monday included Rockdale Repco on Wednesday and Thursday last week, Hai Ha Money Transfer at Cabramatta on the morning of Sunday, July 25 and The Oaks Hotel at Wollondilly at lunchtime on Friday.
Dr Chant said an uptick in supermarkets on exposure lists in recent days was “expected” due to lockdown conditions but large supermarkets were not of concern as a transmission risk.
She said transmissions had “generally” been when a staff member had infected a colleague, noting smaller shops that can be more crowded were of more concern to health authorities.
Sixteen new local cases were reported in Queensland on Tuesday, all linked to the Indooroopilly Delta cluster, which has been spreading among local high schools. Eleven local government areas have been locked down until Sunday afternoon.
Victoria reported four new local cases, all linked to known cases and in quarantine.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Mary Ward is a health reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Lucy Carroll is a reporter covering health for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Most Viewed in National
NSW records 199 new local cases, 2 million doses needed this month - Sydney Morning Herald
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment