I won’t be doing daily updates from now on, but I will do as many as I can fit in!
Outdoors today but this time in a bushland setting, Shanes Park in Western Sydney – apparently it’s becoming a National Park. Quite liking the birdsong in the background throughout.
Gladys Berejiklian, Dr MacAnulty today.
Today’s key numbers/areas
961 new locally acquired cases + 3 O/S acquired cases. 😢 9 more deaths.
106,451 tests.
1,146 in hospital, 222 in ICU, 117 ventilated.
9.6M vaccines have been given in NSW
🎯Vaccination rates today for 16’s & over are at 85.2% for 1st vaccinations, 59.2% for fully vaccinated.
🎯Vaccination rates today for 12-16yo’s are at 37% for 1st vaccinations, didn’t give the % for fully vaccinated.
Case numbers in Western/South Western Sydney continue on downward trend.
Sewage detections in Muswellbrook, Grafton, Wardell. And somewhere I didn’t catch in the Far West of NSW.
Regional cases – Illawarra and Central Coast are still not doing well.
Today’s Messaging/updates/Q&A
“Hold the line” is today’s messaging till we get to the 70% double vaccinated target, expecting that to be somewhere in the next 2 to 3 weeks. (Johnny Cash immediately sprang to mind there!).
Matt Kean then gives his spiel on the new National Park which while it’s very important (but not enough), I won’t expand on here.
Q on will the unvaccinated need to wait until 90% double vaccination is reached. Will re-open to everyone “when it’s safe to do so”. So I take that to mean that is still up for debate.
Will travel within the State be allowed and at what level? Back to the when it’s safe to do so line. So that’s still up for debate too. Indications though that that won’t be till we reach 80%. Have been reports recently that some regional areas are VERY concerned that they will be hit with an influx of visitors. And that may result in a subsequent uptake in regional case numbers.
80% Roadmap will apparently come out sometime this week. Indications though that it won’t be till November before things really open up.
Businesses can start planning for 4sqm rule, whenever that might be.
Outdoor public pools will re-open from tomorrow. Comes up a little later that apparently one Council has issued something (?) that they won’t be enforcing only double vaccinated can access.
Not willing to call yet whether the peak has or hasn’t been reached. Hospitalisations however do appear to be tracking under what was projected. So that’s a good thing! Still however anticipating the health system will be “technically overwhelmed” in October.
Mobility restrictions will definitely be back in play for areas that have an increase in case numbers (but you’ll be likely to be able to get your hair cut as long as it’s within your LGA).
Expect QR codes, checking in etc. to be around for the rest of 2021 at least.
Good grief! Apparently, the Poisons Hotline has received an increase in calls from people administering home made COVID vaccines or treatments (not sure which). This is a SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA people. DO NOT do it.
Stay safe, wear your mask, maintain physical distancing, and follow the bloody rules!
Talking Politics Over Dinner 