NSW hits incredible 70% fully-vaccinated against Covid

NSW has finally hit its 70 per cent vaccination target, triggering the end of four months of gruelling lockdown.

The state reached the major milestone on Wednesday, with the official figures to be revealed at Thursday’s press conference. 

NSW Health data now shows over 70 per cent of NSW residents over 15 have been double-jabbed with close to 90 per cent receiving at least one dose.

Newly-appointed NSW premier Dominic Perrottet broke the long-awaited news on Twitter.

‘Bam. We’ve hit 70% of over-16s double vaccinated in NSW,’ he posted.

‘This is great news and big step closer to a full reopening and a proper summer.

‘Some restrictions will ease from Monday October 11, so keep up-to-date with NSW Health.’

Newly-appointed NSW premier Dominic Perrottet broke the long-awaited news on Twitter

More than 80.5 per cent of eligible Australian residents over the age of 16 have received their first Covid-19 jab while 58.4 per cent are now fully vaccinated (pictured, vaccinated Sydneysiders enjoying a picnic)

There were 22,987 vaccine doses administered on Tuesday at state-run facilities with many thousands more at GPs, pharmacists, and federal clinics.  

NSW recorded 594 new Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, the fewest since August 18.

Ten deaths with Covid were also reported: seven men and three women from Sydney’s Covid-hit west and southwestern suburbs, Wollongong, and the Riverina. 

One of the deceased was in their 40s, one in their 60s, four in their 70s, two in their 80s, and two in their 90s.

Three of them were double-vaccinated, four had received one jab and three were unvaccinated. 

The fatalities bring the state’s death toll from the latest outbreak to 395 and the total number since the start of the pandemic to 451.

Lockdown will end for fully vaccinated locals on Monday, including five people being allowed to visit homes, and restaurants, bars, and shops reopening.

On Monday, restrictions in NSW are set to be eased after reaching the 70 per cent full vaccination target (pictured, Sydneysiders at Bronte Beach)

NSW recorded 594 new Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, the fewest since August 18 (pictured, Belmore Sports Ground vaccination hub)

Mr Perrottet is reviewing NSW’s roadmap out of lockdown with the state’s crisis cabinet and health officials on Wednesday, hinting tweaks could be made.

The new premier was sworn in on Tuesday will go over the plan for the state to emerge from months of lockdown from October 11.

His government’s first challenge will be navigating the path out of lockdown, which began in Sydney more than 15 weeks ago.

‘There’s a number of areas within the roadmap that can be looked at,’ Mr Perrottet told Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday.

Key to the state’s reopening will be an economic recovery plan, which the premier will unveil this week, and the ability of the state’s health system to cope with an expected spike in Covid-19 cases when restrictions ease.  

Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders caught up with friends for the first time in weeks with picnics in Centennial Park on Sunday

Five people are set to be allowed to visit a home, restaurants, bars and retail shops will also reopen on Monday (pictured, Bondi Beach testing centre)

Mr Perrottet said while the economy had taken a significant beating during the lockdown, which began in June, he expects the state to ‘bounce back very quickly’.

‘As we head into December and over the summer period as businesses open… we’re going to have a very bright summer,’ he said.

‘What we’ll see is a stronger economy on the other side.’

Mr Perrottet is also determined to get workers back into offices to breathe life back into major CBDs ‘this year and as quickly as possible’, but he acknowledged mandatory mask-wearing in offices is an impediment.

Under the roadmap, masks remain compulsory in indoor environments until December.

Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) will hold a crisis meeting on Wednesday to review NSW’s roadmap out of Covid lockdown

The premier was reluctant to say if he would push for that requirement to be ditched earlier.

‘I don’t want to pre-empt any decision yet. We’ve got a cabinet meeting this afternoon and we’ll work through that,’ he said.

‘There’s a number of issues that I want to raise with our health officials.’

Mr Perrottet also said that from now on lockdowns would be the last resort if there is an outbreak, as the state’s vaccination rates continue to rise.

As of midnight Monday, 88.6 per cent of people aged 16 and over have had at least one dose and 67.7 per cent were fully vaccinated.