Covid update: Numbers grow in western NSW

THERE were 390 new cases of covid-19 detected in the past 24 hours.

In Western NSW there have been an additional 22 cases identified, mainly in the township of Walgett.

There have been five new cases in the Hunter New England Health area and one death of a Newcastle man in his 90s, who was fully vaccinated and in palliative care.

The areas of Bathurst, Parkes and Burke have been placed on alert after remnants of the virus have been found in the sewerage system. 

There have been no confirmed cases in the Tamworth, Armidale or Northern Rivers area.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was on track to reach 6 million vaccinations by the end of August, hit the 70 percent milestone by the end of October and 80 percent by mid-November; at which point people will shift to “move live with Covid.”

“We’re looking forward to hitting those milestones, because we know the more of us, the higher percentage of us who are vaccinated the greater opportunities we have in the future and the greater opportunities we have to live more freely and safely,” Gladys Berejiklian said.

There are currently 391 people hospitalised with the virus, with 63 people in intensive care and 30 people being ventilated.