Sydney off limits for longer

DUE to low vaccination rates in some regional areas, travel between Greater Sydney and the regions has been delayed until November 1.

Originally travel restrictions were set to ease at 70 percent double vaccination, then pushed back to 80 percent and is now scheduled for November 1; three weeks later than planned.

Why? While the state average is expected to reach 80 percent double vaccination on Sunday, local government areas, such as Muswellbrook are still only at 56.5 percent vaccination rate.

With nearly 25 percent lower vaccination levels in some areas, the risk is regional hospitals with limited beds will not cope with an outbreak of the virus.

Example:

• The rate of hospitalisation from delta is 11%;
• Muswellbrook LGA has 15,000 people, with approximately 6,525 unvaccinated;
• 718 people may require hospitalisation;

Most large Sydney hospitals are less than 500 hospital beds – for ALL healthcare needs, not just covid patients. Most small regional hospitals could not cope with a dozen covid patients. Then consider that 700 patients from Muswellbrook represents just one LGA with low vaccination rates and other low vaccination areas would be added to those numbers of hospitalisations, which would be unsustainable on the hospital system across the state.