Covid update: Vaccination target set at six million jabs

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has set a six million vaccination target for New South Wales to reach by the end of August.

The Premier admitted she doesn’t know what life for New South Wales residents will look like on August 29, but the government is starting to plan a roadmap out of lockdown.

“On August 29 we want to be able to ease restrictions, but that will depend on where the case numbers are at, but also of course, where the vaccination rate is at,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Six million is the [vaccination] target I want to set by the end of August. We’re at 3.9 million, I suspect we’ll be at four million by the end of the week or in the next few days and that is the target I’d like to set for New South Wales,” she said.

“If you have any concerns, go through your GP, but please know the more of us that get vaccinated, the greater chance we have to live freely beyond August 29,” she said.

The state recorded 199 new local cases up to 8pm last night, with 111 cases still under investigation and 50 people who were infectious in the community.

Fifty-three people are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 20 of whom require ventilation.

Of the 53 cases in ICU, 5 people are aged in their 20s, 6 are in their 30s, 3 are in their 40s, 18 are in their 50s, 11 are in their 60s and 10 are in their 70s.

Dr Kerry Chant encouraged people to consider vaccination, as New South Wales Health data indicates more people are being hospitalised with the Delta variant compared to the initial Covid-19 strain.

“A key piece of the information is that of the 53 people in ICU, 43 people are not vaccinated,” Dr Chant said.

“So my big call out is to get vaccinated,” she said.

“I look at the vaccine coverage data every night . . . it really is quite tragic that we’ve got still people in their 90s that are unprotected, still people in their 80s and 70s and 60s, notwithstanding other ages groups that are not protected,” she said.

“I would urge everyone to discuss with your immunisation provider, the risks and benefits of vaccination for your particular circumstances, make an informed decision and consider vaccination,” said Dr Chant.

Covid-19 case breakdown

Cases:

• 199 new locally acquired cases;
• 88 are linked to a known case or cluster;
• 67 are household contacts;
• 21 are close contacts;
• 111 cases remain under investigation;
• 70 cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period;
• 32 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period;
• 50 cases were infectious in the community;
• 47 cases are under investigation for their isolation status.

Hospitalisation:

• 250 cases have been admitted to hospital;
• 53 people are in the Intensive Care Unit;
• Of the 53 cases in ICU, 5 people are aged in their 20s, 6 are in their 30s, 3 are in their 40s, 18 are in their 50s, 11 are in their 60s and 10 are in their 70s;
• 20 people require ventilation.

Vaccines:

• NSW Health administered 25,312 vaccines during the last 24 hours;
• 3,968,811 total vaccines have been administered in NSW since February.