Contrary to what we all thought last week the daily presser did happen.
GB, Dr Mac, and RN Danielle Austen (St Vincent’s) are on today.
Today’s headline messaging is that no one can let their guard down along with the daily pleas for ALL to get vacc’d.
Today’s key numbers/areas
1,257 new locally acquired cases and 3 O/S acquired, 😒 7 deaths.
137,668 tests.
1,189 in hospital, 222 in ICU, 94 ventilated.
184 deaths since 16 June outbreak began, 240 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Sewage detections in Yass, Eden, Tamworth, Dunbogin, Karuah, Gerroa & Brooklyn.
Suburbs with most cases still in Sydney’s West and South-West. Increasing cases in suburbs of Redfern, Waterloo, Busby, Condell Park.
Cases across the State still spread widely. Walgett gets a special mention today along with Coonamble.
Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Central Coast & Hunter cases have increased over the weekend.
Vacc 🎯 78.5% is the current figure for first doses, 46.2% fully vacc’d.
Today’s messaging/updates/Q&A
Getting to 80% does NOT mean that the unvacc’d will get the same freedoms that the vacc’d get at 70%.
Importantly for 16yo and over Pfizer is available now from GPs across the State, next week from pharmacies (I think). Moderna also will be available via pharmacies for 12yo and over.
Reopening is based on premise we are all cautious, responsible etc. etc.
Since Feb have given over 8M doses across NSW. Today also marks the milestone that vacc’s for 12yo and over available.
As part of state-wide program, St Vincent’s team have been working to ensure equitable vacc access includes the vulnerable in the community.
5 months ago, opened a targeted vacc hub for homeless/social housing.
VVV (Vinnie’s Vacc Van, I love this!) came from a conversation held at that hub. Specifically targeting those who wouldn’t be able to access via the state vacc hubs. Now have 2 VVVs. VVVs are targeting aged care facilities, young with severe disabilities and their carers, the bed bound, those in hostels and temporary accommodation, have responded to areas of concern at short notice, including prisons.
“Vaccination is the only way out of this, it is the light at the end of the tunnel”.
Important to remember that vacc protects everyone working in the health system. For everyone who hasn’t been vacc’d, for all our sakes, go have a discussion with your health provider, your pharmacist, someone at a pop up clinic, whatever.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities this weekend will be holding pop up clinics for these communities specifically across the State.
GB was always scheduled to do the presser today (that’s news to most of us) because of key milestones announced today. Only one so far is vacc availability for 12yo’s and over which is actually not news today … No this isn’t a change of heart on daily pressers.
City of Sydney has below average vacc rates. Have been identifying pockets across the State where vacc rates are low and responded with walk up clinics etc.
GB thanked the 1000s of health staff who are doing their utmost to get vacc out to everyone. We’re all joining with you on that GB.
Don’t know about anyone else but this switching between referencing 70% single dose and 70% double dose is confusing at best.
Audio is as usual terrible today for journo’s questions.
Q on what will occur at 80% double vacc’d and what ‘freedoms’ will be available. Still working on that. But sure as hell if you’re not vacc’d chances are you won’t be able to avail yourself of whatever they might be. Yes indeed, it is your choice to not be vacc’d. As avoiding serious illness and death doesn’t seem to be swaying this group any perhaps the fact that they are going to be prohibited from enjoying some ‘freedoms’ will?
It is indeed the prerogative of private businesses to make the call on whether they will or won’t provide whatever their services are to those who choose not to get vacc’d. Some people are going to get a shock. As they say, you can lead the horse to water but …
National Plan is a ‘guide’ only to what might happen at 80%. Mmm more friction to be expected then at Non-National Cabinet?
Q on why Redfern and other inner city suburbs aren’t included as an LGA of concern. After much waffle, health advice is trotted out. Yes there are indeed a lot of vulnerable communities in these areas. Any additional impact that can be made there will be critical in keeping them safe.
Q on whether they can implement some sort of plan to open pools in West and South-Western Sydney. They’re all pretty pissed off at the huge numbers reported over the weekend flocking to the beaches.
A rare acknowledgement that those able to actually attend work don’t have, and probably don’t comprehend, the pressures that those working from home and home schooling children at the same time have.
Clarification, 12-15yo’s are NOT included in the vacc target numbers on which plans are being made, i.e., the 70% and 80%. They are counted separately.
Q that contact tracers are not investigating AT ALL unless case is in workplace, aged care home, hospitals etc. Dr Mac gets this one, yes they are prioritising high risk settings due to workload. In regional are continuing to do tracing and follow up in lower risk settings. ‘Adapting’ approach as they go, hence the higher reliance on things like txt messaging positive cases. Sounding like they are leaving some (all?) of the notification to potential contacts to businesses? Yes, they are working with businesses to help them develop plans for this, “businesses are often in the best place to know how their systems work, who is most at risk, how they can organise their businesses through their pre-existing COVID plans to identify who is most at risk”. Well, that’s great for businesses who actually have plans, and implement them, and are following the rules. (We all know businesses that don’t). I’m not sure that leaving the risk assessment to them though is wise?
Ambulance Service have said that they are getting ready to call up Firefighters with basic first aid training when the system gets overwhelmed. HSU is not comfortable with this. GB reiterates that the plans in place are including the whole of system response etc. etc. GB is also quite sure they have enough staff that have been re-trained, redeployed etc. No, there are no discussions taking place to request paramedic assistance if need be.
NSW Fire personnel quite rightly are concerned that if this happens they may be called out to cases that they aren’t medically trained to deal with.
GB remains convinced and confident that even when our Health system is stressed that they will be able to handle things. This is great, but somewhat at odds with reports from the front line that those working in the system don’t have the same confidence. Think we’re all crossing our fingers that we’ll get through September/October.
September/October will be transition time, guessing that this is their term for coming down off the expected peak case numbers?
Several journos weigh in on the Q as to whether the lockdown/s happened quickly enough after the West Hoxton super spreader event cases were confirmed. This is clearly a VERY sensitive topic. GB maintaining that it was “quite immediate” and within hours of getting the advice (will have to check, don’t recall this though).
I think we’ve actually gotten the point that Delta is really, really bad.
No people won’t judge around Christmas time, they’re judging now. There are many, many people of the view that a hard fast lockdown should have been put in place way back (and that’s at the time, not retrospectively thinking about it now).
Yes huge kudos to those communities who are now at high vacc rates. The challenge now is to replicate this across the board.
We ALL have deep admiration for everyone working their proverbial guts across the entire health system at the moment. The perceived politicisation however is another story.
Last Q is on when vacc will be mandated for politicians (gather that Barilaro has come out in support of this earlier today).
There may, or may not, be an update tomorrow. Watch this space, wear your mask, maintain physical distancing, follow the rules, and stay safe!
Talking Politics Over Dinner 