There were 863 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8 pm Monday and 15 deaths – the highest number of fatalities ever recorded in the state.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the “dramatic drop” in cases in Sydney were due to the high vaccination rates, and he called on regional areas to follow suit.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that 86.2 per cent of people over 16 had now received the first dose of the vaccine, and 61.7 per cent had received both doses, and prognostics showed that the state would reach the 90 per cent first dose target by the end of next week.
People have been urged to get vaccinated as nine of the 15 people who died had been unvaccinated.
Two unvaccinated men in their 40s with underlying health conditions were among the deaths.
A fully vaccinated woman, with underlying health conditions, in her 70s from Bateman’s Bay also died at home, however NSW Health authorities said she only received her second shot shortly before her death and was diagnosed with COVID-19 after she passed away. She was the only fully vaccinated person who died, whereas five others had one jab.
A man in his 60s and a woman in her 90s who died acquired their infections at Liverpool Hospital.
The areas of Greenacre, Merrylands, Mount Druitt, Auburn, Guildford, Yagoona, Blacktown and Minto remain areas of concern.
Fragments of the virus have been detected in sewage at Dareton in the state’s far west, in South Gratton in the Northern Rivers region, in Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains and at Moruya on the south coast.
READ MORE: Consensus in education industry as vaccinations are mandated for Victoria’s teachers
As cases drop, restrictions have been easing in NSW. From 11 October, aged care residents will be able to receive two fully-vaccinated visitors each day.
