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Coronavirus Australia: NSW records 1262 virus cases and six deaths

AAP and staff writersThe West Australian
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NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard arives to address media during a press conference in Sydney.
Camera IconNSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard arives to address media during a press conference in Sydney. Credit: DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

NSW has reported 1262 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths, including a man in his 20s.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there had been some stabilisation of case numbers in the local government areas of concern but the virus was “picking up pace” in certain suburbs.

“We can’t afford to let our guard down,” the premier told reporters at the last press conference of its kind on Sunday.

The daily 11am updates will from Monday be replaced by a video from NSW Health to communicate the new case numbers and concerns of the day.

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The seven deaths reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday include a man in his 20s from western Sydney and six people from south-western Sydney in their 40s, 50s, 70s and 80s.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the man in his 20s was unvaccinated and had significant underlying health conditions.

“When we talk about the fact that people are dying whether they are vaccinated or have underlying health conditions, it really is to highlight the fact that there are still many people in the community who are elderly and not vaccinated, who have underlying health conditions,” Dr Chant said.

“However, I just want to make the point, that while you are likely to have more severe COVID if you are older and have underlying health conditions, even previously healthy people of all ages can get severe disease and die.”

There are currently 1206 COVID-19 patients in NSW in hospital, with 220 in intensive care and 92 ventilated.

Cases are expected to peak in the next week, putting significant strain on hospitals and ambulances.

By midnight on Friday 78.1 per cent of the over-16 population had received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 45.6 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile state and Federal opposition leaders have criticised the plan to scrap the daily live-streamed briefings weeks before the COVID-19 crisis is expected to peak in NSW.

State opposition leader Chris Minns says it is not the time to cut the number of briefings as the community needs accountability while parliament is unable to sit.

“We can’t deny the fact that we are entering one of the most difficult and worrying periods of the entire pandemic,” Mr Minns said on Saturday.

Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese, who lives in Sydney’s inner west, also criticised the move.

“I do find it jarring that on the day in which nine deaths were announced and record numbers of infections, accountability went backwards, not forwards,” he told reporters on Saturday.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard arives to address media during a press conference in Sydney.
Camera IconNSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard arives to address media during a press conference in Sydney. Credit: DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

But Mr Hazzard defended the government’s decision as he said health authorities needed “clear air” to think through the COVID-19 response.

“There is a massive team of people getting ready, drawing in all the information, we then are in here probably three or four hours beforehand,” he said.

“That time is taken out from the time we need to do the things you want us to do.”

“We will still have press conferences ... they might not be absolutely every day.”

Elsewhere, thousands of NSW residents across the state’s northeast and southwest enjoyed their second day of freedom in weeks as stay-at-home restrictions lifted on Saturday for regional centres of Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga and Albury.

Masks are mandatory at indoor public venues, but hospitality, retail and sporting spots have all been cleared to reopen with restrictions while rules for indoor and outdoor gatherings have been relaxed with limits.

VICTORIA RECORDS 392 NEW CASES A STRAIN SERVICES SUSPENDED

Victoria has reported 392 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases as coaches replace all V/Line services after scores of train drivers were placed into isolation.

The health department on Sunday confirmed 107 cases were linked to known outbreaks, with the source of the still 285 under investigation.

It brings the total number of active cases in the state to 3112.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley on Saturday said the current outbreak was concentrated in the young and unvaccinated, with most of the state’s active cases under the age of 40.

In the 24 hours to Sunday morning, 48,063 tests were processed and 36,534 Victorians received a vaccine dose at a state-run hub.

It comes as all of Victoria’s regional train services have been suspended on Sunday after more than 180 drivers and operational staff were placed in isolation following four positive coronavirus tests among workers.

“Out of an abundance of caution we are suspending all trains on Sunday to limit the spread and to keep everyone safe,” the Department of Transport said in a statement late on Saturday evening.

“Replacing trains with coaches will allow for services to continue to operate, give passengers certainty for Monday and help contain the outbreak.”

Coaches will operate to an hourly frequency across most lines and not the scheduled Sunday train timetable.

WA RECORDS ONE CASE IN HOTEL QUARANTINE

WA Health reported one new COVID-19 case in hotel quarantine on Sunday.

The new infection, in a returned traveller from the UK, brings to three the state’s number of active cases in hotel quarantine.

’SIGH OF RELIEF’: QLD REPORTS NO NEW CASES

Queenslanders are breathing a sigh of relief, with the sunshine state recording no new COVID-19 cases and again dodging a lockdown.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed Queensland reported no new infections on Sunday, after detecting five new cases on Saturday.

The state government opted not to go into lockdown but flagged “very quick, fast action” may be needed if it saw seeding outside an infected family.

“I know the last 24 hours Queenslanders have had their fingers and toes crossed, and it’s fantastic to bring news that we can breathe a sigh of relief,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“There’s no new cases in Queensland in the last 24 hours. This is the best result we could have hoped for.

“We’re not out of the woods yet. We do need to continue to monitor the situation, particularly south of the river down through Logan and into the Gold Coast.”

The outbreak has infected five members of the same family who live across two households, including a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Sunnybank.

The children were exposed to a visitor when they saw their father on Father’s Day, then returned to their mother’s home.

The man, who entered Queensland with two others on September 5, has since returned to NSW.

All three men are believed to have crossed the border with the correct passes but police are investigating.

Of the trio, two have since tested positive and Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young is now confident they are the source of the cluster.

“There’s been minimal exposure from those two people, but people just need to be cautious,” Dr Young said.

“We know that the person who did infect the 13-year-old girl had very little contact.”

One of the men visited places in the Gold Coast area, prompting authorities to ask anyone with symptoms to come forward for testing.

STATE-BY-STATE CASE BREAKDOWN

VIC - 392 NEW CASES

NSW - 1262 NEW CASES, SEVEN DEATHS

QLD - ZERO NEW CASES

ACT - TBA

WA - ONE NEW CASE IN HOTEL QUARANTINE

SA - TBA

TAS - TBA

NT - TBA

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