Covid: Tamworth sewerage tests positive

THERE were 1032 new cases of covid-19 diagnosed in the state in the past 24 hours and Tamworth sewerage has tested positive to the virus.

Residents of Tamworth, Merimbula, Cooma and Brewarrina, where sewerage has tested positive,  are encouraged to come forward for testing to identify cases in the community. 

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has described regional New South Wales as being on a knifes edge of the virus spreading and said it was “alarming” to see positive sewerage tests, but no known cases.

However, he said the uptake rate of vaccinations in regional areas was inspiring with many regions increasing from 30% first vaccinations to more than 60% first vaccinations within only one week.

The Deputy Premier encouraged people in the regions to continue getting vaccinated to protect the local communities.

Lock downs extended and concessions for fully vaccinated

The lock down in regional New South Wales will be extended until midnight Friday, September 10, as cases numbers continue to grow and sewerage networks are testing positive with cases unidentified.

However, there were more than 136,000 people vaccinated yesterday in New South Wales, setting a new 24 hour record for the state, which has paved the way for some restrictions being eased for people who are fully vaccinated. 

From September 13, fully vaccinated adults will be able to meet for recreation for one hour, outdoors in a group of five adults (children can also be included), this is in addition to the one hour of outdoor exercise. All adults will need to have evidence of their full vaccination.

The Premier explained all other restrictions will remain in place for the time being but concessions would continue to be made as vaccination rates increase.

“The condition of you participating (is dependent) on you being vaccinated because when you start opening at 70 percent (vaccination rate) there are certain activities only vaccinated people can do. Because we know a proportion of the population is unvaccinated and it poses a risk to too many people,” said Premier Berejiklian.

Further concessions will be made as vaccination levels increase, including reaching 70 percent, which is expected in October. 

Regional cases

• 25 Dubbo
• 5 Wilcannia
• 3 Orange
• 2 Bathurst
• 2 Burke
• 2 Wollongong
• 2 Central Coast
• 1 Forbes
• 1 Mudgee
• 1 Parkes *source unidentified
• 0 new cases in Newcastle!

State cases update:

• There were 1029 locally acquired cases and 5 oversea cases identified in the past 24 hours.
• 698 people are hospitalised with covid
• 116 people are in intensive care
• 43 people in intensive care are on ventilators – ages range from people in their 20s to 70s
• 102 people in ICU were unvaccinated

Three more deaths: There were another three deaths reported today, a 30 year old male who died at home, a 60 year old man who also died at home and an 80 year old man who died in hospital. All were unvaccinated. The deaths occurred between August 17 and August 21.