A massive 70% of people in NSW have had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and while that’s not the Big Target™ of 70% double-dose coverage, it’s still enough for the state government to allow unlimited daytime exercise in the 12 LGAs of concern.
It comes after NSW recorded 1,288 COVID-19 cases overnight, plus seven deaths. That’s all the more reason to get vaxxed, and the data shows that people really have been stepping up lately.
“Pleasingly today, New South Wales looks like we’ll be the first state or territory to hit 70% first-dose vaccination across our population,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at the daily coronavirus presser on Thursday.
“I can’t thank people enough. It’s been a difficult couple of months and the fact that people have heard the messages we’ve been giving, and coming forward to get vaccinated, and hitting that 70% first dose is an outstanding achievement.
“As a result, can I say that all the people who live in local government areas of concern, from 5am [Friday] morning, will be able to have unlimited exercise.
“Previously we’d only allowed an hour a day to exercise and now the public health experts have given us the green light to allow everybody who lives in a local government area of concern to have unlimited exercise from 5am to 9pm.”
It’s worth noting that the curfew for those suburbs will still be in place, which is something that never applied to the rest of Sydney. The one hour limit will also still apply for recreation in those LGAs, such as having a picnic with members of your own household.
Berejiklian also used the opportunity to thank people in Western Sydney for putting up with the ultra-strict restrictions so far.
The climbing vaccination rate now means that some suburbs could finally be removed from the list of LGAs of concern. But the Premier didn’t mention any names… yet.
“Our public health team are looking at those numbers closely and now we’ve hit 70% first dose vaccination we have an opportunity to look at those things, including whether some local government areas of concern can be relieved of being under that consideration,” Berejiklian said.
As for bigger restrictions being eased across the state, we’ll have to wait until 70% of the population is vaccinated with both doses. According to the latest estimates, NSW is on track to hit that mark around mid October.
In the meantime, y’all know the drill: stay home where possible, get tested if you have any symptoms, and get vaxxed as soon as you can.
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get vaccinated. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor for more info.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
