Covid update: Hunter lock down likely to extend

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has said Hunter New England Health has reported an additional 14 cases of covid-19 in the past 24 hours, making it unlikely the region will come out of lock down on Thursday. 

Two cases of covid-19 have been confirmed in the Dubbo area, a lady in her 40s and a household contact who is a young child. Dubbo will enter a seven day lock down from 1pm today. 

The Premier said Dubbo was a good example of how sewerage testing can help identify if cases may be in the community.

No cases have been identified in the Tamworth or Armidale areas.

The Premier said the state is aiming for 6 million vaccinations done by the end of August, explaining that when 70 percent of the population are fully vaccinated some freedoms can be restored.

In the past 24 hours:

• 374 additional cases have been identified;
• 65 were infectious while in the community;
• 62 people are in ICU;
• 57 people in ICU were unvaccinated;
• 5 people in ICU had only received one dose of the vaccine;
• of the people in ICU
  • 3 are in their 20s, 7 are in their 30s, 6 are in their 40s, 14 are in their 50s, 13 are in their 60s, 16 are in their 70s and 3 are in their 80s and
• 2 people have died, a man in his 90s who was unvaccinated and a man in his 30s who had underlying health conditions.

Dr Kerry Chant, chief medical officer said the pattern of partially vaccinated compared to unvaccinated patients in the ICU was striking.

“You can see the vaccine works. We haven’t got anyone in ICU that has receivied the two doses of the vaccine….and even one dose does afford some protection,” Dr Chant said.