Covid: Plans for Christmas

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has said the state is aiming for 80 percent vaccination, to allow them to welcome home Australians overseas in time for Christmas.

“My dream is to have every Aussie home for Christmas,” said Gladys Berejiklian.

The Premier said businesses should get ready to reopen and get staff vaccinated.

Brad Hazzard, Minister for Health, made a clarion call for all nurses who may have left the profession, to come back to the system and assist in the fight against covid as more staff are needed across the system.

Mr Hazzard said people who were not being vaccinated were “selfish” by placing more weight on the hospital staff and the community, but said not to wait for Pfizer.

“There is not enough Pfizer anywhere for people who are waiting for it….get Astra Zeneca…I’ve had it…go and get vaccinated as fast as you can,” Brad Hazzard said.

In the past 24 hours, 1167 new cases of covid-19 were identified, 871 people are hospitalised, 143 people are in ICU, 58 people are being ventilated and three people have died.

New cases in regional NSW:

• 32 Dubbo
• 8 Burke
• 5 Wellington
• 5 Bathurst
• 4 Wilcannia
• 4 Central Coast
• 1 Naromine
• 1 Mudgee
• 1 Brewarrina
• 1 Parkes
• 1 Lake Macquarie
• 1 Port Stephens
• 1 Shellharbour