On Monday, NSW recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic with 18 new COVID-19 deaths including a child aged under five and a man in his 30s, as 20,293 new COVID-19 cases in the state were identified from PCR testing.
“As increasingly people follow NSW Health’s advice to use rapid antigen tests for diagnosing COVID-19, the number of PCR tests will underestimate the true number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said a statement released by NSW Health.
“Can I just express my sincere condolences to those who have lost their loved ones,” said NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant.
NSW Health reported the deaths of 18 people; six women, 11 men, and a child aged under five.
Of the six women and 11 men, one was aged in their 30s, three were aged in their 60s, four were aged in their 70s, seven were aged in their 80s and two were aged in their 90s.
Four people were from south western Sydney, three people were from western Sydney, two people were from the Hunter region, two people were from southern Sydney, two people were from
Sydney’s inner west, one person was from northern Sydney, one person was from Sydney’s inner city, one person was from eastern Sydney, one person was from the Riverina region, and one person was from Penrith.
The child from south western Sydney died at home and had significant underlying health conditions.
The man in his 30s from eastern Sydney died at Prince of Wales Hospital and was not vaccinated.
On Monday, Hunter New England Health reported 13 new COVID-19 cases from the Narrabri Shire (or for people with a Narrabri Shire address).
The total number of reported cases from Narrabri Shire was 424, as of 8pm on Sunday night.
Hunter New England Health recorded a total of 1115 new COVID-19 cases for its region, diagnosed as of 8pm on Sunday night.
Of the 22,486 total active cases, 101 are receiving care in our hospitals and eight are in ICU.
“Masks are mandatory in all non-residential indoor settings, and we strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask in any situation where they cannot socially distance,” said HNELHD in a media statement.
This week, vaccinations for children aged five to 11 started with the NSW government and health profession urging parents and carers to book an appointment for their child.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) will be made available for the roughly 720,000 children in that age group across NSW.
“More than 18,000 kids aged five to 11 have caught COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, which highlights why vaccination is so important,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We saw a great vaccination response for children aged 12-15 years, so we hope parents will book in their younger children before they start or go back to school.
“I want to also encourage anyone who has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination to do so. This includes adults who had their second dose four months ago and are now due for a booster.”
Children aged five to 11 will be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccine in a range of centres and local community settings including general practitioners, community pharmacies, NSW Health clinics and other providers such as Aboriginal Medical Services.
NSW Health has so far delivered more than 326,027 booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, in support of the Federal Government’s vaccine program.
People aged 18 years and older can get a booster at least four months after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said most parents have always embraced the public health messaging which has helped lift our childhood vaccination rates across NSW.
“Whether it be measles or whooping cough or Pneumococcal or Hepatitis B, parents in NSW have always listened to the science to help protect their kids,” Mr Hazzard said.
“No one wants to see their child in hospital and the best way we can safeguard our kids against COVID-19 and importantly, the elderly around them, is to get them vaccinated.”
NSW Chief Paediatrician Dr Matthew O’Meara said parents should protect their children against the risks of getting COVID-19.
“Everyone who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated whether they’re healthy or not, and it’s especially important for kids who have underlying medical problems or are above a healthy weight.”
Bookings can be made at a NSW Health clinic, GP or pharmacy via the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.
Last Friday, the NSW government announced new rules in some social settings and a range of precautionary measures it says will provide additional support for the health system and community ahead of an ‘anticipated peak in COVID cases later this month’.
“These adjustments will allow us to continue to live with COVID and manage the pandemic in a measured and considered way,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
From January 8-27, singing and dancing will be prohibited in hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, entertainment facilities, and major recreation facilities.
This prohibition will not apply for weddings, or for students and instructors and performers in the settings listed above.
Major events scheduled for the coming weeks will be risk-assessed by NSW Health and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Event organisers should assume their event will proceed unchanged unless they are contacted by NSW Health to advise otherwise.
The NSW government is continuing to encourage people to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19:
• People are asked to continue to use commonsense in limiting large household gatherings and gather outdoors where possible; and
• the government also recommends people stay seated when drinking in hospitality venues.
Premier Perrottet said NSW had met and overcome many challenges over the past two years and dealing with the latest strain Omicron was no different.
“We’re dealing with a highly transmissible variant but fortunately it appears to be a much less severe form of COVID-19 and our high vaccination rates are clearly helping to keep people safe,” Mr Perrottet said.
“I want to thank our health care workers for their dedication and professionalism, not only now but during two very hard years.
“To alleviate pressure on the hospital system and staff, we’re extending the usual holiday suspension of non-urgent elective surgery through to February and will utilise private hospital capacity where needed, as we did during the Alpha and Delta outbreaks.
“Public health orders will also be updated to include a requirement that people report their positive Rapid Antigen Test results, linking those impacted with health support and advice about how they can manage their symptoms from home.”.
Toyota Country Music Festival manager Barry Harley said the decision to postpone the festival, just a week out from the event, was a difficult, yet necessary, decision to make.
“Given the current state of COVID transmission in our communities, and the impact the changed COVID safety measures have on our venues, it is the best decision for the health and safety of everyone involved particularly the Tamworth and country music community,” he said.
Mr Harley said that organisers are now planning to hold the 50th anniversary event in April this year, with many of the same features, including the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards held over a shorter period.
The NSW government has also announced critical workers in the food logistics and manufacturing sectors furloughed as close contacts will be permitted to leave self-isolation to attend work if they have no symptoms of COVID-19, to ensure the state has continued access to essential goods.
Workers will only be eligible to leave self-isolation if their employer determines that their absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of critical services or activities, and they are unable to work from home.
These workers must wear a mask and comply with risk-management strategies put in place by their employer, including daily Rapid Antigen Tests.
Any worker who tests positive or develops symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate.
NSW government also announced critical workers in the food logistics and manufacturing sectors furloughed as close contacts will be permitted to leave self-isolation to attend work if they have no symptoms of COVID-19, to ensure the state has continued access to essential goods.
Workers will only be eligible to leave self-isolation if their employer determines that their absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of critical services or activities, and they are unable to work from home.
These workers must wear a mask and comply with risk-management strategies put in place by their employer, including daily Rapid Antigen Tests.
Any worker who tests positive or who develops symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate. The new rules take effect immediately and apply to critical workers in the following sectors:
- agriculture (biosecurity and food safety personnel undertaking critical duties)
- manufacturing (production and manufacturing of food, beverages, groceries, cleaning and sanitary products)
- transport, postal and warehousing (food logistics, delivery and grocery fulfillment)
The exemption from the isolation rules for close contacts also applies to emergency services workers who are necessary for the delivery of critical services and who cannot work from home.
Last week, the federal government announced 6.6 million pensioners and Commonwealth concession card holders will have access to free Rapid Antigen Tests.
Up to 10 tests will be available over three months (a maximum of five in a month) free through pharmacies to more than six million people holding the following cards:
- Pension Concession Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card
- Health Care Card
- Low Income Health Card
More than 200 million tests have been sourced by the Commonwealth and the States and Territories. These free tests will become available in the next two weeks.
However, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who is a close contact, should attend a state clinic for free testing and not go to a pharmacy to receive a free test.
A PCR test is also no longer needed to confirm a positive RAT test.
Anyone who has a positive RAT test is encouraged to contact their GP for support as required and undertake the required seven days isolation.
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton also encouraged people “to book in their booster shots” if it has been four months or more since the primary course of COVID-19 vaccination.
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