New South Wales has recorded 18 local cases of Covid-19 overnight as Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed a decision will be made on Wednesday as to whether Sydney’s lockdown will end on time on Friday night.
Of those locally-transmitted cases, 11 were in isolation for the entire time they were infectious, but two were infectious while out in the community.
Ms Berejiklian said another five were self-isolating for part of their infectious period.
Authorities have linked all but two of the 18 cases – nine of which are household contacts – to known cases. The new infections were reported from 32,136 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm.
She said though government officials would look at ‘every last bit of advice’ before deciding whether to end Greater Sydney’s strict stay-at-home restrictions.
The lockdown was imposed on June 26 for two weeks to stem the spread of the highly-contagious Delta strain of the virus, which is thought to be about twice as transmissible as previous variants.
‘The difference now to what occurred in the last year or so – since we had the only one other lockdown [the national lockdown in March] – is the Delta strain,’ Ms Berejiklian said.
‘This strain is different to what we have experienced. If you look at other jurisdictions around the world, we can see that you can’t afford to let this get away from you.’
The numbers of mystery cases and new cases not in isolation will determine whether Sydney can get out of lockdown as planned on Friday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said. Pictured: Rushcutters Bay Park on Sunday
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said one of the cases was a worker at the SummitCare Baulkham Hills aged care facility who worked throughout their infectious period.
The state’s health minister Brad Hazzard had earlier on Tuesday morning revealed the number of mystery cases and new cases not in isolation will determine whether Sydney can get out of lockdown as planned.
‘There’s a whole team of health officials… they’re looking at the numbers, whether they’re linked or unlinked, and also whether there’s unknown chains of transmission,’ Mr Hazzard told RN Breakfast.
He said case numbers will ‘bounce around’ but the state does not have a set target that needs to be reached to end lockdown.
‘Last year when the numbers were going through the roof, that was traumatising. We know that what we’re doing needs to be done to hold the line but we’re just not sure how to break that line,’ he said.
The minister said he was ‘hopeful’ lockdown would end but some key restrictions would remain in place.
‘We are on high alert but we are hopeful we could bring in some normalcy,’ he said.
The restrictions most likely to remain include a cap on the number of visitors to households and mandatory mask-wearing at venues and on public transport.
NEW: USE DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA’S TRACKER TO FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU
Elsewhere, NSW Health has issued fresh alerts for seven new venues, including a pharmacy at Belfield in Sydney’s southwest and the Adventist Hospital at Wahroonga in Sydney’s north.
The alerts come as it emerged a man working with vulnerable elderly residents at an aged care home is refusing to get vaccinated against Covid, despite a spike in cases in Sydney and a relentlessly-growing list of exposure sites spreading across the city.
Jabs are being made mandatory for everyone working in aged care and hotel quarantine settings, with the majority of Australia’s coronavirus deaths being in nursing homes.
A man working with vulnerable elderly residents at an aged care home is refusing to get vaccinated against Covid (pictured, healthcare workers transport a person into a patient transport vehicle at the Summitcare Aged Care facility in Baulham Hills, Sydney)
Out of 35 new cases in New South Wales on Monday, two were residents at SummitCare aged care home in Baulkham Hills, taking the cluster to five.
But one aged care worker, known only as Drew, said he and many others in the industry are fiercely opposed to the move, and says he feels ‘coerced’ by the federal government’s new policy.
Health chiefs have continuously explained that unless the vaccination rate picks up, particularly among those working with vulnerable Australians, continued lockdowns and border closures may be unavoidable.
As Sydney’s latest lockdown rolls into it 12th day, the city’s growing Covid exposure list grew yet again to include multiple busy supermarkets and restaurants.
‘I’m aware of many of my colleagues who are now fearful of getting the vaccine and feel coerced and pressured that if they don’t, they will be unemployed,’ the anonymous aged care worker told A Current Affair on Monday night.
‘There are many, many people like that’.
Drew has worked in the aged care industry for more than 30 years and is now worried he might lose his job, claiming he’s ‘not an anti-vaxxer’ and has received the flu vaccine before.
‘I’m certainly hesitant in relation to the Covid vaccine. The flu vaccine has been well-tested, well-researched,’ he explained.
‘I find it scary that we can develop a vaccine and say that it’s going to be effective in such a short period of time without having a good study trial and reviewing the side effects people have had, including death.’
When reporter Brady Halls explained to Drew that there have been numerous studies and trials to make sure the vaccines are safe, he replied by saying: ‘I disagree’.
The aged care worker known only as Drew (pictured) said he and many others are fiercely opposed to the federal government’s move to mandate Covid vaccinations
The Arcare Aged Care facility in Melbourne (pictured) was rocked by a Covid outbreak in 2020, with 75 per cent of all Australia’s coronavirus deaths happening in nursing homes
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia’s shores in the early part of 2020, there have been 685 deaths in aged care settings – making up 75 per cent of all the nation’s Covid fatalities.
The shocking revelations came as a distraught daughter revealed her 90-year-old mother still hasn’t been vaccinated, in spite of their best efforts.
But despite those worrying statistics, Drew says he shouldn’t be forced to get the jab.
‘Most residents in aged care have received the vaccine so if the vaccine is effective then they should be okay,’ he said.
‘I have the right to decide if I want to have medication or not and if I decide not to at this moment in time I should not be punished for that.
‘I shouldn’t be threatened. I shouldn’t be coerced and I certainly shouldn’t be told that I’m going to lose my job and my career.’
But the Councils on the Ageing CEO Ian Yates says vaccinations are a ‘no-brainer’.
Only nine per cent of Australian adults have been double jabbed and while some aged care workers are refusing to get the vaccine, there are residents who are desperate for the jab but can’t receive it (pictured, two health care workers)
Pictured: Sydney’s SummitCare Baulkham Hills aged care facility, where five residents have tested positive
‘We are dealing with the most vulnerable section of our community. There is no reason if you are working with them that you should not be vaccinated,’ he said.
‘Asking people to have the flu and Covid vaccinations to work in aged care is a no-brainer.’
But while some aged care workers are refusing to get the vaccine, there are residents who are desperate for the jab but can’t receive it.
Sue Halford’s 90-year-old mother Barbara resides in a nursing home and is still yet to be vaccinated.
‘She’s waiting and I really think she needs to get her shot as a priority group 1A, 90-year-old in aged care, she really should have got her shot yesterday,’ Ms Halford said.
Sue Halford’s 90-year-old mother Barbara resides in a nursing home and is still yet to be vaccinated (pictured together)
Due to medical concerns, Barbara requires the Pfizer jab but with stock in short supply due to the federal government’s bungled vaccine rollout, it meant she may have to wait until the final quarter of the year.
‘I know it’s supposed to be coming September 1, but there’s still how long until then? So it needed to happen yesterday,’ Ms Halford said.