Dr Mac and Dr Pearce give today’s update.
Today’s key numbers/areas
1,127 new locally acquired cases + 8 O/S acquired cases + 1 case acquired in VIC.
Sadly 2 more deaths.
114,084 tests.
1,253 in hospital, 231 in ICU, 104 ventilated.
Vaccination rates today are at 78.8% for 1st dose, 46.5% for 2nd dose.
8.2M doses delivered to date across NSW.
186 deaths to date in this outbreak, 242 deaths since start of the pandemic.
Sewage detections in Young but no known active cases. So, GET TESTED if you have the slightest symptoms.
Case numbers still high in West & South-Western Sydney.
Regional NSW new cases still spread across the State.
Yass went back into lockdown at midnight last night after an oh so brief 3 days of relative freedom. Stay at home orders apply to anyone who has been in Yass area from 09/09.
Today’s Messaging/updates/Q&A
While it’s very early days there are indications that the curve is starting to flatten. Which is excellent news. Gather that the increase in vaccination rates is believed to be the contributing factor.
Is there any point in continuing to do QR code check-ins given that contact tracing is being prioritised on specific areas/places of high transmission? Well yes, I’d say definitely. If I’ve unintentionally been somewhere that’s led to a major outbreak I sure as hell want them to be able to contact me.
Q on whether curfews are effective. Part of the suite of measures that are being reviewed daily.
R factor has been around 1.2 but looks like it is heading down. Also good news, but it is very early days.
James is back on pools today, yes there is a lot of difference between a natural or public swimming pool. Dr Mac very patiently explaining that it’s not necessarily the pool itself, it’s the shared facilities that people use at public pools, and the area that the pool is in.
NSW Legislative Council apparently are back sitting today, Dr Mac has no idea if their COVID safe plan has been approved. Let’s hope they are leading by example.
Defining areas of concern by LGA vs postcode. I gather this has been a topic of discussion in this morning’s media. Nice explanation of all the factors that are looked at. There are a lot of them. And how that has really helped in targeting measures. Perhaps more importantly targeting things like vaccination. Geocoding is also something that they have been utilising. Just on that postcode thing, this is a bit of an issue in regional areas where a single postcode can cover a really big area and multiple villages.
City of Sydney has some suburbs with high/increasing case #s so Q why is it not an LGA of concern? The daily data review isn’t indicating it needs to be in this case I gather.
The range of factors that will determine when the 12 LGAs come out of their very restrictive lockdown, is reviewed daily. Further Q on just what it will take to bring the LGAs of concern out of that category. Case numbers, trajectories, vacc rates, levels of movements, transport data etc are all factors that are reviewed daily.
Why do some suburbs very high vaccination rates? Dr Pearce explains that vaccination supply is targeted to suburbs by particular need. Confirm there are a lot more mobile units in play now too. Yes quite correct that setting the example is having an effect. As more people get vacc’d and their friends and neighbours see that they aren’t having adverse effects that has to make a difference. (Although sadly for all of us the pundits predicting we’d all have internal 5G were wrong, that would have been useful 😊).
Continual data review is determining where resources are being directed, focusing on Claymore for example right now. LGA of Parramatta is an also an area of concern currently for vaccination rates.
Polish supply blitz had a longer time interval (8 weeks I think). Further supplies are coming on board (UK & Singapore), but supply is not yet sufficient to do 2nd doses. Expecting to receive more in October which will allow for 2nd doses. Booking system largely takes care of 1st and 2nd doses in terms of bookings and when people get booked. Are looking at those who’ve had their vacc in private clinics if they can bring forward 2nd doses. Most of the NSW Health hubs are now taking walk-in appointments for AZ which remains in plentiful supply. Back on my broken record once more … so that’s continuing to be a clear indication that the Federal job of sorting out supply remains an issue.
Have teams out across the State focusing on vulnerable communities. Yes they are tracking as much as possible vacc rates across different community sectors, postcodes, LGAs. Working closely with various bodies and community groups to focus vaccines as much as possible to the more vulnerable.
Well this is a change, Dr Mac stating that being an LGA of concern is actually an advantage in some respects. Prioritisation of vaccine supply for example to maximise vacc rates.
Nice qualification too that if you look at too small a population sample, too short a period etc that it’s difficult to get robust data to quantify R rates.
Has been some media reporting this morning on new modelling released with some pretty dire predictions around projected ICU numbers looking forward. Dr Mac hasn’t seen those particular figures so can’t really comment.
Restaurants and café owners are “copping some heat” for saying that they will only serve those that are fully vaccinated when they re-open. Dr Mac reinforcing the message that vaccination has proven extremely effective at restricting spread, and more importantly in reducing your chances of serious symptoms and death. Don’t know about you but that was enough incentive for me to get fully vaccinated!
Must say, that was one of the clearest and most enjoyable pressers for some time.
That’s it for today folks. As always, stay safe, maintain physical distancing, follow the rules, and wear your masks!
Talking Politics Over Dinner 