NSW has recorded 753 new COVID-19 cases as it breaks through a major barrier – six million vaccinations – and promises to announce “at least” one freedom for twice-jabbed residents by week’s end.
The new daily total is down on the past three days, which were all above 810 cases.
Most new cases were in western and southwestern Sydney (516) while inner Sydney also delivered 73 fresh infections.
Of the new cases, 80 per cent have an unknown isolation status and 82 per cent remain are yet to be linked to a known cluster.
However, vaccination figures show NSW administered its six-millionth shot on Monday – a key figure that the premier had sought to reach by August 28.
“It is (an) amazing milestone. I’m deeply grateful,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
The two million fully vaccinated NSW residents will have “at least one” freedom restored to them in late September, the premier says.
“I look forward to making that announcement on Thursday or Friday this week as to what fully vaccinated people will be able to do from the month of September,” she said.
“So thank you to everyone who stepped up and got the jab.”
There are 608 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, with 107 people in intensive care and 34 on a ventilator – all higher than Monday
NSW Health manages about 500 intensive care beds but has a surge capacity of about 2000, with a ventilator for each bed.
The state has in recent days exceeded the record number of daily cases set by Victoria at the height of its second wave last year.
But Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his home state had managed to keep cases low – as it had to – while vaccination rates ramped up.
“Overseas they’ve got tens of thousands of cases every day,” he told Nine on Tuesday.
“I was talking to Boris Johnson the other day (and) he’s amazed that our cases are that low. It’s all relative.”
Lockdown will remain in place until at least August 28 in regional NSW and at least September 30 in Sydney and surrounds.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Monday told a parliamentary inquiry that life in NSW would be “pretty damn good” by November as vaccination coverage approaches 70 and 80 per cent.
Mr Hazzard also said he hoped to sign a public health order by week’s end mandating vaccination for NSW healthcare workers.
More than three-quarters of healthcare workers in NSW have had at least one vaccine dose, rising to 89 per cent in metropolitan areas.
Ms Berejiklian also promised to soon clarify whether school students will be able to return to classrooms in term four.
AAP
