Following a series of simultaneous press conferences between states earlier today, Victoria has announced 65 locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night while NSW reported 830 new infections.
That brings the total of active cases to 440 and 10223 respectively.
In Victoria, 55 of those cases are linked to known outbreaks, while only 12 cases were in isolation for their entire infectious period.
There are growing concerns in regards to an outbreak at the Royal Melbourne hospital, which involves three additional cases to be included in tomorrow’s numbers.
Reported yesterday: 65 new local cases and 1 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
– 26,149 vaccine doses were administered
– 44,147 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/Ss16hh465Q— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) August 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Health minister Martin Foley announced a new scheme available to all full-time, part-time, long-term and regular casual workers across the public service, including emergency services.
Said scheme will offer all public sector staff up to a half day of paid time off to get their COVID-10 vaccine doses in an attempt to encourage other employers to offer the same conditions to their employees.
“Public sector workers are strongly encouraged to come forward and get vaccinated as soon as you’re eligible, knowing that substantial numbers already have,” Mr Foley said explaining that “paid time off to get vaccinated applies in addition to accrued sick leave, which can be used if people do expect in a small number of cases, some adverse side effects”.
At the same time, another vaccination blitz for residential aged care and disability workers at state run facilities who aren’t already vaccinated will be underway.
Moving on to the NSW statistics, 137 of the locally acquired cases are linked to a known case or cluster – 118 are household contacts and 19 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 693 cases is under investigation while the state also recorded three more COVID-19 related deaths, a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s, and a woman in her 80s.
While Australians are getting more and more frustrated with the extended lockdowns, Prime minister Scott Morrison firmly stated that states and territories must not backtrack on the plan to ease restrictions once 70 and 80 per cent vaccination targets are met.
NSW recorded 830 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/oLeEPFlo0j
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 22, 2021
In another press conference held by Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Shane Patton earlier today, yesterday’s anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne’s CBD were dubbed “the most violent” he has seen in two decades, describing the act “disgraceful”.
“What we saw yesterday was probably one of the most violent protests we’ve seen in nearly 20 years. That is astonishing,” he said defending the use of pepperspray and rubber bullets as necessary.
According to police estimates, about 4000 people attended the protest with 218 of the attendees arrested and charged with offences.
“The protest was held under the banner of a ‘freedom rally’. It was anything but. All I can say is … it was tremendously disappointing. The risk that those people have posed to the rest of the community is disgraceful and selfish,” Mr Patton said.
Overall, more than $1.1 million in fines will be issued to those violating lockdown rules to participate, after six police officers were hospitalised.
On a similar note, 47 arrests made during Saturday’s lockdown protests in Sydney. NSW Police issued more than 260 infringement notices to non compliant citizens storming the CBD with most of the fines issued for not wearing a mask.
In regards to the Australian Capital Territory, numbers are also spiking with 19 bringing the total active cases to 102. Western Australia has 4 new cases while Queensland has recorded zero new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Neigbouring New Zealand health authoritoies have recorded 21 new Covid-19 cases for the second day in a row, raising the Delta outbreak number of infections to 72.
Lockdowns will be highly unlikely and targeted towards unvaccinated populations when the vaccinated proportion of the community reaches the 70 and 80 per cent targets, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
