NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has foreshadowed a trend of record-high COVID case numbers is likely to continue as the nation's Chief Medical Officer calls for a crack down on infection control.
Sydneysiders are bracing for a potentially even bigger day of COVID-19 after the New South Wales Premier warned on Friday to expect an uptick in cases over coming days.
The state saw 291 new coronavirus cases yesterday, making the highest daily number of new infections in NSW since the pandemic reached Australian shores early in 2020.
A new death was also reported, taking the state to a total 22 fatalities since the latest outbreak of the Delta variant.
Gladys Berejiklian’s grim foreshadowing came shortly before Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly called for a “circuit breaker” to get on top of cases which remain stubbornly high even after six weeks of lockdown.
The Premier underscored on Friday she wanted people to be prepared after NSW reported another record figure the day before, with 252 infections on Thursday and five deaths.
“We are likely to see this trend continue for the next few days,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“So I ask everybody to prepare themselves for higher case numbers in the next few days just based on this trend in the last few days.
“Where things are going, I am expecting high case numbers in the [next] few days and just want to be prepared for that.”
At least 50 of the new COVID cases recorded on Friday were in the community while infectious.
Meanwhile, Professor Kelly pointed to the need for a “circuit breaker" as he addressed the nation after the National Cabinet meeting on Friday, highlighting there was “no sense” Sydney case numbers were “rapidly heading towards zero”.
“Despite the increasing vaccination in those areas, there is still a rise in the number of cases,” he said.
“There is still worrying signs in terms of unlinked cases, new chains of transmission, new exposure sites and geographic spread and the like.”
The Chief Medical Officer held up increased vaccine uptake as a critical part of curbing the spread in those areas most affected.
“NSW needs to stay the course and look for those new ways of increasing and improving that situation.”
Ms Berejiklian also doubled down on the need to boost vaccination rates as she reiterated jab numbers were instrumental in determining what life would look like for NSW from August 29 – when the lockdown is scheduled to end.
“The science tells us, the jab reduces the spread, it keeps people out of hospital and it gives us choices in how we live freely moving into the future,” she said.
“The more people we get vaccinated the sooner we’ll be able to live more freely and I really want to stress that point.
“Life for us on August 29 will be a reflection of how many people have at least one dose of the vaccine and where the case numbers are.
“Obviously once we hit the 70 per cent vaccination rate life will be much easier and of course once we hit the 80 per cent vaccination rate life will be as normal as we can expect during COVID.”
The NSW government is expected to provide a COVID-19 update at 11am. Join Sky News Australia for live updates.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2021-08-06 20:59:50Z
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