- NSW health authorities expect COVID-19 cases in the state to peak in the coming weeks, with 1281 new infections recorded in the last 24 hours
- New modelling predicts cases in Sydney’s hot spot areas will peak in Mid-September, though up to 3900 people will require hospital care
- Currently, 171 people are in intensive care units in NSW fighting for life and that number is expected to almost triple to 560 people in ICU by October
- Victoria recorded 246 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with 83 per cent of today’s cases occurring in people aged under 50
- Melbourne’s final-year school students will receive priority Pfizer bookings from Monday, while the Moderna vaccine will soon be rolled out in pharmacies
NSW health authorities expect COVID-19 cases in the state to peak in the coming weeks, with 1281 new infections recorded in the last 24 hours.
New modelling by the NSW Government predicts cases in Sydney’s hot spot areas will peak at up to 2000 cases per day in the coming weeks before vaccine immunity kicks in.
The spike in cases will lead to a rise in the number of people in hospital, with an extra 3900 people likely to need hospital care.
As of Monday, there are 1071 people in hospital with COVID-19 in NSW, while 177 people are fighting for life in intensive care.
Five people also died overnight and it’s expected that number will rise, with up to 560 people expected to be admitted to the ICU over September-October.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the modelling could change if people flout existing COVID-19 restrictions.
However, the NSW Premier is planning to partially ease lockdown restrictions once NSW hits its 70 per cent vaccination target of first doses.
In Victoria, another 246 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Monday – the highest number of cases ever recorded in this latest outbreak.
State COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said around 83 per cent of today’s cases occurred in people aged under 50.
He argued the outbreak was primarily affecting young, unvaccinated essential workers, with numbers expected to rise further.
“With the numbers we’re seeing in recent days we need to be prepared for significant community transmission to continue to occur,” Mr Weimar said.
Final-year school students in Victoria will receive priority Pfizer bookings from today, as the state chases its own 70 per cent vaccination target.
Children aged 12 and above will also have access to the Moderna vaccine from the end of the month.
It’s expected the jab will be administered in pharmacies, after the drug watchdog signed off on the jab on Saturday.