NSW Hits 6 million Jab Target as State Records 753 New Cases
NSW has stated 753 new local cases on Tuesday, as the state hit jab target of 6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered. Ms. Berejiklian said she was satisfied and thankful as the state had hit the target, and she looked onward to making a declaration on Thursday or Friday about additional freedoms available to fully vaccinated people in the state from September, along with a plan to return to children to school.
Fully vaccinated inhabitants had been assured additional freedoms once NSW hit the 6 million dose target. With the number of fully vaccinated people in Sydney considerably higher with elder inhabitants, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she wanted the vaccine rollout to have a strong equity focus.
“We want to vaccinate people that are in critical industries where they have to function, they have to keep going to work … this is the whole basis of our targeted immunization strategy,” she said.
The source of infection of 619 of the new cases remains under research and health specialists have confirmed only 73 of the cases were quarantined for their entire infectious period. Fifty new cases were recorded in NSW’s west and far west in the 24 hours to 8 pm last night, comprising 23 in Dubbo, five in Parkes, and cases in Wellington, Gilgandra, and Narromine. An additional 14 cases were verified in Wilcannia, in the state’s far west.
There are 608 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospitals in NSW, comprising 107 people in intensive care. 24 people need ventilation. Dr. Chant said 95 of the 107 individuals in ICU were not vaccinated and 12 had gotten one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The vaccines are highly effective I urge everyone to get their two doses as quickly as possible,” she said, repeating her call for individuals to bring forward their second AstraZenca dose. NSW Deputy Secretary Pearce said the number of bookings for the Pfizer vaccine made by people aged 16 to 39 in the 12 local government areas of concern was approaching 300,00 as the ministry pushes to manage 500,000 vaccines in this age group over the past fortnight.
“As we said earlier in the week, we still have well over 200,000 spots available for people in those 12 LGAs. Don’t delay,” she said.
Dr. Pearce said people from the 12 local government areas of concern are being encouraged to wear their sporting team colors this Sunday when getting vaccinated and posting a selfie to social media. “The sporting codes will be announcing a competition to see which code can get the most vaccinations completed,” she said.
Data published by the federal government on Monday disclosed areas of western and southwest Sydney have the fastest-growing rated of vaccination coverage in the nation. In Blacktown, 64.8% of people aged 15 and over have now received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, up 11.2% points in a week.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro admired certain local communities for their high vaccination rates responding to the virus threat. He said the major mover for the week was Gilgandra, which went from 22.5% of people having a first dose of 51% in under a week. “We continue to strive to get a 70 and then 80 percent vaccination rate in the regions,” he said.
In the meantime, there were 50 new cases stated in Victoria. 10 of the cases were under investigation when reported on Tuesday morning. Only 11 of the new Victorian cases were quarantined for their entire infectious period.
Queensland stated six new local cases on Tuesday, comprising two under investigation. Two truck drivers have tested positive in NSW after being in the sunshine state, but Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was not too worried as they had not visited several sites.
