Gladys Berejiklian, Stuart Ayres (Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism & Western Sydney) and Dr Gale today.
Held outside again today and the audio is bloody awful, it’s literally impossible to hear the journo’s questions 🤦♀️. The Auslan interpreters also struggle throughout proceedings today. For all our sakes can we keep these to appropriate venues please?
Today’s key numbers/areas
1,284 new locally acquired cases + 2 O/S acquired cases. 😢 12 more deaths.
155,334 tests.
15k+ cases, majority being cared for in community.
1,245 in hospital, 228 in ICU, 112 ventilated.
Of those in ICU 172 (75%) of are not vaccinated, 50 (22%) have had 1st vaccination, 6 (3%) have had 2nd vaccination.
Since 16th June there have been 222 COVID related deaths, 278 since the start of the pandemic.
🎯Vaccination rates today are at 80.7% for 1st vaccinations, 49.6% for 2nd vaccinations.
Sewage detections in Uralla, Inverell, Karuah, Coffs Harbour, Cowra, Narooma, Young.
Are a number of exposure sites in Young (one person has tested positive as have others in that household).
Still a high number of new cases in Western and South-Western Sydney.
Still concern about Central Coast and Illawarra, both areas seeing increases in case numbers.
Today’s Messaging/updates/Q&A
Need everyone to “stay the course” and “stick to the rules”. Yes we’re all just a wee bit over it but it’s not the time to take risks people!
Working on the 80% plan at the moment.
Biggest announcement today is the home quarantine trial which starts at the end of this month. 175 people will be trialling 7 days home quarantine. Includes Qantas staff. Will be utilising facial recognition and GPS apps on phones to check that people are in fact remaining at home during the trial. Lifting the caps on the numbers able to return to Australia is a big factor that’s driving this. Those chosen to participate in the trial will be selected by NSW Health and Police. People will need to be double vaccinated to participate. Will be 125 non Qantas staff initially. This will include some families with children who are not eligible for vaccines. Sounds like current cap is only 30 people a week. The home quarantine trial is part of the National Plan. Will be “operationalising” the movement of those selected for the trial from the airport to their homes. If this works it will be a game changer. Good Q on the fact that this is going to be technology based, so gather it won’t be an option for those without smart phones.
“Want to be able to reduce the time people have to stay in quarantine”. Gosh, I’m a little concerned about it only being 7 days. Pretty sure the epidemiologists will be concerned about that too. Also clarifies that only those who have had TGA accredited vaccines will be eligible. That will I think include vaccines that are not currently used in Australia.
As it’s literally impossible to hear some questions I have no bloody idea what the next waffling response relates to. Possibly related to targeted vaccination strategies.
Apparently NSW has had 250k+ through the O/S arrivals quarantine program so far.
Working with business and industry around clarifications for what will happen at the 70% and 80% fully vaccinated marks.
GB thanking GPs and pharmacists who are taking an innovative approach to delivering vaccines, I think the completely inaudible question related to one(?) GP who has been able to setup a drive through vaccine operation. I’m sure a lot of them would love to do this if only they had the space.
Don’t know if we have reached the peak or not, best to stay the course for a few more weeks (I have no issue with this!).
GPs get their supply directly from the Federal Govt. I do know they are distributed via the PHN (Public Health Network), and that GPs get some choice in how many they can order but they are pre-determined quantities they get to choose from. NSW is able to do some targeting to areas of concern from the quantity directly allocated to NSW Health but in the main it’s directed by Federal.
Moderna arrives tonight. That’s going to be available primarily via pharmacists. Sounds like minimal quantities of Moderna will be directed to NSW Health.
Someone tries to slip in an ICAC related question. No joy on that one.
Home quarantine will be a 2 week trial to start with which differs with what was said earlier. So, it’s either one week or two, who knows … or maybe it’s 2 separate weeks of 7 days home quarantine being trialled? Depending on the outcomes of the trial will be looking to quickly scale this up.
Vaccine passports sounds like they are targeting this to be available when 80% double vaccination 🎯 is reached.
Q I think around people being released on parole, not sure why this is coming up? If they’ve served their sentence and been given parole it’s a little unreasonable to expect them to remain incarcerated.
Q relating to the positive cases in the Redfern (I’m presuming) apartment blocks. Is a targeted program providing support to the residents. Hoping that is including access to vaccinations. Now 80 people diagnosed there (an increase of 12 since yesterday).
Good grief, now we’re on to a Q around the new airport runways and flight paths. Ayres taking pains to point out that Federal are responsible for this.
And that brings today’s proceedings to a close.
Stay safe, keep those masks on, keep maintaining physical distance and follow the rules everyone!
Talking Politics Over Dinner 