Despite two months of lockdowns, New South Wales (NSW) state reported 919 new cases amid a growing Delta variant outbreak, taking Australia’s daily case numbers to a new pandemic high just below 1,000.
Sydney’s new daily record on COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, putting parts of the health system under “severe pressure,” officials said as they urged an increase in vaccinations to help curb the rate of hospitalizations. As per statistics, a total of 113 people in the state are in intensive care, with 98 of those unvaccinated.
“This highlights ... the fact that vaccination is the key. We need to increase those vaccine coverage levels,” state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told a briefing.
Australia, grappling to control a third wave of the coronavirus, has locked down more than half of its 25 million population, including its largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and is accelerating an initially sluggish vaccine rollout. Around 31 percent of people above 16 have been fully vaccinated, while 54 percent have had at least one dose.
Sydney’s new daily record on COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, putting parts of the health system under “severe pressure,” officials said as they urged an increase in vaccinations to help curb the rate of hospitalizations. As per statistics, a total of 113 people in the state are in intensive care, with 98 of those unvaccinated.
“This highlights ... the fact that vaccination is the key. We need to increase those vaccine coverage levels,” state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told a briefing.
Australia, grappling to control a third wave of the coronavirus, has locked down more than half of its 25 million population, including its largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and is accelerating an initially sluggish vaccine rollout. Around 31 percent of people above 16 have been fully vaccinated, while 54 percent have had at least one dose.
