As COVID-19 infections rise in New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet assures that the government will keep treating residents “like adults” and avoid renewing more restrictions or imposing a lockdown.
In the last 24 hours to 8pm yesterday NSW recorded 2501 new cases, a new record number, thankfully, without new deaths. However, there are currently 33 people in intensive care.
“The evidence is clear. The numbers do not lie. Getting vaccinated protects you and your family,” Mr Perrottet said. “The numbers speak for themselves.”
“Booster shots are crucial to keeping people safe” he added urging adults who received their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine five months ago to get their booster shot.
“Other places around the world … are having to close down because they don’t have the vaccination success that we do.”
NSW COVID-19 update – Monday 20 December 2021
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:
– 94.9% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
– 93.4% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/P7Dw6MGJeI— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 19, 2021
In Victoria, 1302 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded while 406 people remain in hospital with the virus and 81 with active infections receive treatment in intensive care units.
As more than 71,000 Victorians rushed in for a test yesterday the government is planning to open more testing sites in order to deal with the slow turnaround of results. At the moment, the minimum wait for a PCR test is two hours.
In Queensland on the other hand, there are 59 new infections across the state with Omicron becoming the dominant strain at an accelerated speed. Masks are becoming mandatory indoors, again. ACT has recorded 13 new cases.
Meanwhile, the first death of a Māori boy under 10 with COVID-19 in New Zealand has lead to Māori children being prioritised in the next stage of the vaccine rollout, the Ministry of Health confirmed.
