August 22 - 28, 2021: Issue 507

 

New protections + safety rules to carry NSW through to vaccination targets: parents strongly encouraged to keep children out of early education and care services and at home

Covid-19 Testing Clinic at Avalon Bowling Club carpark. 

In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Minister for Health and Medical Research, The Hon. Brad Hazzard, announced on Friday August 20th that NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September, and introduce new rules targeting the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging.

NSW Health and Police have worked together to develop a set of additional COVID controls for the state to reduce transmission and ensure compliance.

Additional measures for Greater Sydney (including regional NSW until 28 August):

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, the following additional rule will also be introduced for Greater Sydney (including regional NSW until 28 August):

  • Mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising.

There have been a number of cases in Early Childhood Education and Care Services, so parents and carers across the state are strongly encouraged to keep their children at home, unless they need to be at those services.

There have been 11,395 locally acquired cases reported since June 16 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported. 

Additional rules for the LGAs of concern:

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August the following additional rules will apply for residents and businesses in the LGAs of concern:

  • Curfews will be introduced from 9pm to 5am (except for work, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people;
  • Outdoor exercise is limited to one hour per day;
  • The following retail premises must close except for click and collect: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies (tradespeople are allowed to shop in-store where relevant); and
  • All exams and other education or professional development related activities will move online, not including the HSC. The government will provide further information on its education plan in due course.

The following new restrictions around workplaces and authorised workers from the LGAs of concern will be introduced:

  • Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in the LGAs of concern must have their first vaccination dose by 30 August;
  • Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their work-site or they have had their first vaccination dose by 30 August. 
  • From Saturday, 28 August, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern  are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home; and
  • From Saturday, 28 August, anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Fairfield LGAs will no longer have to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA.

Special powers will also be given to the NSW Police Force including:

  • Power for the Commissioner of Police to lockdown apartment blocks while health assesses the COVID risk; 
  • Power for the Commissioner of Police to declare a residential premise a COVID-risk premise and require all people to present to police during compliance checks;
  • Powers to allow police to direct a person who has been issued with an infringement notice to return to their place of residence; and
  • If a person from outside an LGA of concern is found to be in an LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse, they will be fined $1000 and required to isolate at home for 14 days.

Read the latest COVID-19 information.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week.

To find your nearest clinic visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics

You must stay home. Only leave your home if you have a reasonable excuse.

Reasonable Excuse To Leave Home

A reasonable excuse is if you need to:

  • obtain food or other goods and services:
    • in your local government area, within 10km of your home, if reasonably practicable but not if to do so means that you would enter a local government area of concern (from the start of Monday 16 August 2021, a 5km rule will apply)
    • for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes (including pets)
    • for vulnerable people
    • only one person per household may leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day (you may take a dependent person with you if that person cannot be left at home on their own). 
  • leave home to go to work if:
    • you cannot reasonably work from home and
    • the business is allowed to be open and
    • you comply with relevant rules for COVID-19 tests for Sydney workers. 
    • leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
    • exercise and take outdoor recreation within your local government area or up to 10km from your home (from the start of Monday 16 August 2021, a 5km rule will apply)
    • go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.

See the list of other reasonable excuses.

From: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#summary-of-restrictions

Making it easier to get vaccinated

Pharmacies are administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 18 and over living in communities where access to a GP (doctor) or vaccine clinic is limited.

You must be aged 18 and over to get the AstraZeneca vaccine at the participating pharmacies. 

You can book an appointment at a participating pharmacy or doctor's practice via the eligibility checker: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

This service is available in English, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Punjabi, Korean, Turkish, Bengali, Serbian, Khmer, Spanish, Hindi and Assyrian. 

Translated resources are also available at: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/translated-resources

If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your doctor first. 

If you have had another vaccination recently, including for seasonal influenza, you should wait at least 7 days before booking your appointment for COVID-19 vaccination.

The Eligibility Checker will prompt you to answer some questions to check when you can get a COVID-19 vaccination, find out where, and book an appointment. You can do this for yourself or another person.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends the COVID-19 Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine as the preferred vaccine for people aged 16 to 59 years, but the AstraZeneca vaccine can also be provided to this age group.

All residential aged care workers are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine regardless of age. If you work in residential aged care, you can contact the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 and select option 4 for priority assistance and advice relating to booking your COVID-19 vaccine.

  • If you are aged 40 years or more, you are eligible for vaccination.
  • If you are aged 16 to 39 years you may be eligible for vaccination. Complete the checker to find out. Pfizer vaccination appointments are now available for people aged 16 to 39 who live in local government areas of concern in Sydney.
  • If you are eligible and can’t find a clinic or make a booking that suits you, please check back later. New clinics and appointments are being added all the time.
  • People under 16 years of age are not able to get vaccinated at this time unless they are 12-15 years of age and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or have an identified underlying medical condition.

Policing strategies disrupt planned COVID-19 protests

Saturday, 21 August 2021

Police have arrested 47 people and issued more than 260 Penalty Infringement Notices in a swift and coordinated response to disrupt protest activity in the Sydney CBD and across regional NSW.

Earlier today (Saturday 21 August 2021), a high-visibility policing operation was launched across Sydney and regional NSW, to prevent, disrupt and respond to any planned mass gathering or protest activity.

More than 1500 police, including general duties officers from across the Central Metropolitan Region, assisted by specialist police from the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), Operations Support Group (OSG), Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Dog and Mounted Unit, were involved in the operation.

Additionally, police issued a prohibition notice to taxi, rideshare and passenger services from conveying passengers to the Sydney CBD, to restrict the movement of potential protesters.

During the state-wide operation, 47 people were arrested and are currently in the process of being charged.

Of note, a 32-year-old Five Dock man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer at Mountain Street, Ultimo, about 12.30pm today. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where charges are expected to be laid. The male constable was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries to his neck and head.

In addition, police issued 261 Penalty Infringement Notices for breaches of the public health orders.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he was disappointed that some people still ignored all warnings to stay at home and keep their loved ones safe.

“We saw the community backlash after the last protest and that was a genuine reflection of how they saw the actions of a small minority,” Mr Elliott said.

“That small minority has again chosen to blatantly ignore the very clear, repeated warnings of NSW Police, which is disappointing, frustrating and – frankly – disgraceful.

“The actions they have taken are likely to prolong the very lockdown they were protesting about.

“I thank every police officer involved in today’s operation for doing their duty to keep safe the vast majority of the population who are doing the right thing by observing the public health orders and working towards a positive outcome,” Mr Elliott said.

Metropolitan Field Operations Commander, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, said the operational policing response was supported by road and transport strategies to minimise any crowd movements that would allow would-be protesters to converge.

“NSW Police successfully disrupted the activities of a large number of people attempting to travel into the Sydney CBD today to attend an unauthorised protest,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.

“The traffic operations around Sydney identified 137 people who were in breach of the Public Health Order either by not wearing face coverings, or who had no reasonable excuse to be travelling outside their local government area (LGA).

“As part of road policing operation, nearly 38,000 vehicles were checked at 14 designated traffic points stationed on major roads leading into the city centre, and 120 mobile units were deployed across our roadways.

“A small number of people who once again deliberately endangered the health and safety of others in the community by attempting to protest near Ultimo were quickly dispersed by police.

“During the state-wide operation, nearly 50 people were arrested and as investigations continue, we expect to identify more people through CCTV and social media footage.

“I want to acknowledge the community who have had their own lives disrupted in some way today due to these unauthorised protests, we thank you for ongoing support.

“I also wish to thank the 1500 police officers who were deployed across the state for their professional response during today’s activities,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any public health order or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community by contacting Crime Stoppers: on 1800 333 000 or via https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

______________________________________________________________________


Man imprisoned over planning unauthorised protest and breaching Public Health Orders

Friday, 20 August 2021 

A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to a maximum of eight months in prison over his involvement in organising an unauthorised protest, as well as multiple breaches of the Public Health Order.

He was arrested following an investigation by detectives from North Shore Police Area Command into breaches of Public Health Orders, including travelling from Queensland to Sydney and his involvement in planning an unauthorised protest for this weekend.

The Victorian man appeared at Hornsby Local Court today (Friday 20 August 2021) and pleaded guilty to four counts of not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19, encourage the commission of crimes, and false representation resulting in police investigation.

He was subsequently sentenced to a maximum of eight months in prison, with non-parole period of three months.

TGA Approves New COVID-19 Treatment For Use In Australia

August 20, 2021

Australians with COVID-19 who are at risk of hospitalisation will now have access to an additional antibody treatment, as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced today it has granted provisional approval for sotrovimab to be used in Australia.

Earlier this month, the Australian Government secured an initial allocation of over 7,700 doses of the novel monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab and a first shipment is already in the country and ready to be deployed through the National Medical Stockpile from next week.

The sotrovimab treatment requires a single dose to be administered through an intravenous (IV) infusion in a health care facility and has been shown to reduce hospitalisation or death by 79 per cent in adults with mild to moderate COVID-19, who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said sotrovimab will provide an important new way to treat the disease and reduce hospitalisations for people who are most at risk from COVID-19.

“Vaccination remains the most important and safest way for Australians to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19 – and I continue to thank Australians for their take up of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Minister Hunt said.

“This treatment will provide another tool in the ongoing challenge against COVID-19, in addition to the COVID-19 vaccines, which are being rolled out in record numbers across the country.”

Sotrovimab will provide further options to protect vulnerable Australians at risk of developing severe COVID-19, however, not all Australians with COVID-19 will need to access the treatment.

It is expected that sotrovimab will be targeted for the treatment of Australians over 55 years old who have COVID-19 and also have one or more of the following risk factors for disease progression –  diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, lung disease and moderate to severe asthma.

The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce is finalising its recommendation for use.  People who are asymptomatic or who are not at risk of developing severe COVID-19 will not require access to sotrovimab.

Medical experts estimate that eight to 15 per cent of adults with COVID-19 will be recommended for treatment with sotrovimab and this treatment must be given within five days of symptoms onset.

Where a doctor prescribes this treatment for their patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19, it will be made available free of charge through the public health system.

The TGA has given approval to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia Pty Ltd to make sotrovimab available for use in Australia. It is the second COVID-19 treatment to receive regulatory approval in Australia, following the TGA’s approval of Remdesivir.

Sotrovimab is approved for emergency use in the US, Singapore and Canada, however Australia is the first OECD country to issue a formal regulatory approval for sotrovimab.

As with all products procured for the Stockpile, this treatment will be provided to states and territories as needed.

Australia’s purchase of sotrovimab has been supported by the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group (SITAG), which is the Australian Government’s expert group advising on COVID-19 vaccine and treatment purchases.

August 15 2021 - NSW recorded 415 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm August 14th. 

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the deaths of four people. A woman in her 50s from south-western Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital. A woman in her 80s from south-western Sydney died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. A man in his 80s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. A woman in her 70s from south-western Sydney died at Royal North Shore Hospital.

August 16, 2021 - NSW recorded 478 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm August 15. 

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the deaths of eight people. A man in his 80s from south west Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital. A man in his 40s from south west Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. A woman in her 70s from Sydney’s northern suburbs died at Royal North Shore Hospital. A woman in her 80s from Sydney’s inner west died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She was a resident of the Wyoming Residential Aged Care Facility and is the third death linked to this cluster. A man in his 70s from south west Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. He was a patient in the geriatric ward at the hospital and is the eighth death linked to this outbreak. A man in his 80s from south west Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital. A man in his 80s from western Sydney who died at Nepean Hospital. A 15-year-old boy from south west Sydney died at Sydney Children’s Hospital. He was receiving treatment for a serious medical condition and was a confirmed COVID case.

August 17, 2021 - NSW recorded 452 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm, August 16. 

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the death of one person who had COVID-19. A woman in her 70s from western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital.

August 18, 2021 - NSW recorded 633 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm, August 17.

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the deaths of three people who had COVID-19. A man in his 60s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. He was a patient in the geriatric ward at the hospital and is the ninth death linked to this outbreak. Two men, both in their 70s and from western Sydney, died at Nepean Hospital.

August 19, 2021 - ​NSW recorded 681 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm, August 18.

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the death of a person who had COVID-19. A man in his 80s from south-east Sydney died at St George Hospital. 

August 20, 2021 - NSW recorded 644 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm, August 19.

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the deaths of four people who had COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. A woman in her 80s from Sydney’s inner west died at Royal North Shore Hospital. She was a resident at Wyoming Aged Care Facility and is the fourth death linked to this cluster. A man in his 70s from south-east Sydney died at St George Hospital, where he acquired his infection. A man in his 80s from western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital, where he acquired his infection. A woman in her 80s from south-west Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital.

August 21, 2021 - NSW recorded 825 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm, August 20.

Sadly, NSW Health was notified of the deaths of three people who had COVID-19. A man in his 90s from northern Sydney died at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital. A man in his 80s from northern Sydney died at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital. Both these men were residents of Greenwood Aged Care in Normanhurst and acquired their infections in the aged care facility.

A woman in her 90s from south west Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital. She was a patient in the geriatric ward at the hospital and is the tenth death linked to this outbreak.

This brings the number of COVID-related deaths to 68 since June 16, and the number of lives lost in NSW to 124 since the beginning of the pandemic.

There are currently 516 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 85 people in intensive care, 29 of whom require ventilation.

There have been 11,395 locally acquired cases reported since June 16 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported. 

NSW Health administered a record 50,212 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 10,699 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 5,742,211, with 2,071,896 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 3,670,315 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Thursday 19 August.