NSW has recorded a massive 633 local COVID-19 cases overnight, whizzing past the state’s previous daily record of 478 on August 16. Yep, we’ve completely skipped the 500s.
Three deaths were also recorded, while people in the remote and community of Wilcannia (where there is a large Aboriginal population) are being urged to get tested.
“At the moment, according to the data we have, every person who has the virus is spreading it to at least more than one person,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at the daily coronavirus press conference on Wednesday.
“Now, for us to know that we have reached our peak, that can’t continue. So what the data is telling us in the last few days is that we haven’t seen the worst of it.
“And the way that we stop this is by everybody staying at home. You cannot get the virus if you do not have contact with other people.”
NSW recorded 633 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/MdsdVUIUbJ
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 18, 2021
She added that out of the 550 cases reported in Western Sydney, the “vast majority” of cases are in young people.
Merrylands, Guildford, Auburn, Greenacre, St Marys and Strathfield were all called out as suburbs where cases continue climb.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant made clear just how serious the situation now is.
“I can’t express enough my level of concern at these rising numbers of cases,” she said.
“Whilst that vaccination will be an aid and is essential for us getting to a point where we can live safely with COVID, our vaccination coverage at the moment is far too low.
“We need to push that up as much as we can but in the meantime, we also need to do everything we can to not come in contact with anyone, to minimise our movements and to continue to get tested and isolate if you have the most minimal of symptoms.”
Dr Chant once again stressed that the Delta variant is affecting all age groups.
“We have people in their teens, in their 20s, in their 30s, in their 40s, in their 50s, in their 60s, in their 70s and in their 80s, and we know that for every one of those individuals in ICU, particularly those in the older age groups, they have a real and material risk of death,” Dr Chant said.
More to come.
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
