Covid: Hospital numbers climbing

THERE were 1221 new infections of Covid-19 identified and six people have died in the past 24 hours.

Of the people who died, there were two men in their 80s, two men in their 70s and a woman in her 80s.

There are now 813 people hospitalised, 126 people in intensive care and 54 people requiring ventilation.

Of the people who are in intensive care 113 were unvaccinated, 12 had received one dose of vaccine and a healthcare worker who had received 2 doses of the vaccine.

Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the vaccine provides 90 percent protection from becoming very ill with the virus and reduces risk of hospitalisation and intensive care and further explained the covid-19 vaccine is more effective at preventing serious illness than the normal flu vaccination.

Dr McAnulty said the numbers in intensive care show the relative risks of being unvaccinated and while unfortunately there will occasionally be breakthrough infections, such as the double vaccinated health care worker in ICU, the overwhelming risk of serious illness is associated with being unvaccinated. 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the focus was no longer on cases numbers, but numbers of people hospitalised and in intensive care and preventing people from becoming seriously ill through vaccinations. 

The Premier explained as the rates of vaccination increase, the state will begin to open up and people need to be protected from the serious illness associated and being hospitalised and in ICU.

New cases in regional NSW:

• 18 – Dubbo
• 3 – Narromine
• 2 – Wilcannia
• 2 – Burke

Sewerage has also tested positive to the virus in areas, where cases are yet to be identified including Trangi, Byron Bay, Temora, Cooma, Tamworth and Toukley.