NSW has reported 11 deaths and 646 new local coronavirus cases overnight, bringing to a halt a week of daily declining numbers.
The Hunter New England region recorded 97 cases - the highest daily case number for that area, which included Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Tamworth and Maitland.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said a new Delta strain had been identified in eight cases .Credit:Jessica Hromas
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was pleasing to see a decline in case numbers in western Sydney and south-western Sydney, but the suburbs of Greenacre, Yagoona, Panania, Lakemba, Blacktown, Liverpool, Merrylands, and Cessnock in the Hunter region remain a concern.
She said that NSW Health investigations have uncovered eight COVID-19 cases with a different genome sequence to the current Delta strain circulating in Sydney. However, she said there was “no indication that this new strain presents any differences regarding transmission or vaccine effectiveness or severity”.
She said the increase in regional cases highlighted the importance of raising vaccination rates outside metropolitan Sydney.
Dr Chant also reported positive sewage detections in Wee Waa in the Hunter New England region, and Quirindi and Brewarrina in western NSW.
Of the state’s population aged 16 and over, 89.41 per cent have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 70.32 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Dr Chant said she is confident that NSW can achieve the “ambitious target” of well over 90 per cent vaccination.
“We are looking forward to opening up on Monday but it is important, as we do, we do it safely,” she said.
“Please remember that it’s critical that you continue to wear your masks where they’re required, continue to maintain that physical distancing and most importantly, do not go out and about if you have COVID symptoms.”
Dr Chant said 856 patients were being treated for COVID-19 in NSW hospitals, with 170 in ICU. Seventy-five ICU patients required ventilation.
She said two of those who died were aged in their 50s, one in their 60s, four in their 70s, and four in their 80s. Seven of them were not vaccinated, three had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one had received two doses.
The state’s death toll since June 16 is 414, and 470 since the pandemic began.
One of the deaths, a man in his 80s, was a resident at Allity Beechwood Aged Care Facility, where a Delta outbreak has been linked to four deaths.
Dr Chant delivered Friday’s 11am update via a NSW Health livestream posted on social media.
She was not present at Premier Dominic Perrottet’s press conference yesterday, when he confirmed 11am press conferences would be scrapped. The COVID-19 numbers will instead be released at 9am from next week.
Meanwhile, NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole has shut down speculation that day trips from Sydney to regional areas will be allowed when the state’s reopening begins on Monday.
An ABC report emerged last night that a spokesperson from Mr Toole’s office had said such travel for fully vaccinated people excluded holidays but permitted activities included attending attractions such as wineries.
Mr Toole told ABC’s Radio National this morning that under the current rules, visits to family members have been allowed for compassionate care reasons such as vulnerable people. But he said visits for holidays or recreation have not been given the green light.
“Day trips to wineries are not allowed and they will not be allowed. That won’t be occurring,” Mr Toole said.
“It will be very well spelled out shortly so that people don’t start planning a day trip and going out into the regions.”
He said it was raised last night after someone “pointed out the loophole” and he has asked Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Health and legal about it “so there is no confusion”.
From October 11, Sydneysiders can travel within greater Sydney which includes the Central Coast, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains.
Under the road map, holiday travel between greater Sydney and regional local government areas is not permitted until the Monday after the state reaches 80 per cent full vaccination. This target is expected to be reached later in October.
Victoria has recorded 1838 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and five deaths, the highest daily case numbers reported in any jurisdiction since the pandemic began.
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NSW has recorded 646 new local COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths - Sydney Morning Herald
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