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NSW has reported 1022 new local coronavirus cases, as it was announced stay-at-home restrictions would be reintroduced for three regional councils.
Lockdown measures will be reintroduced in the Byron, Kempsey and Tweed council areas in northern NSW from 5pm today for one week.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some cases in the northern part of the state,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said at Tuesday morning’s coronavirus update.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard at Tuesday’s coronavirus update. Credit:Kate Geraghty
Mr Hazzard encouraged locals to “take this very seriously”, expressing concern about low testing and vaccination rates in the region.
The rules apply to anyone who has been in Kempsey since September 14 and Byron or Tweed since September 18.
Ten deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded since yesterday’s update: six were not vaccinated, two people had received one dose of a vaccine and two people – a woman in her 90s who was a resident at Guildford Nursing Home and a man in his 80s – were fully vaccinated.
The woman was the third death linked to Guildford Nursing Home, where more than 40 residents have tested positive.
Two of the deaths acquired their infection in a public hospital: a man in his 80s who was a patient at Canterbury Hospital and died at Concord Hospital, and a man in his 80s who died at Hornsby Hospital, where he acquired his infection.
Some western Sydney councils now have first-dose vaccination rates of above 95 per cent, as people continue to come forward for shots ahead of NSW’s planned reopening next month.
Councils report 95pc first-dose vaccination
The Hills Shire and Camden councils both report more than 95 per cent of their residents aged 15 and over having received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to data released by the federal government on Monday night.
Other councils areas in Sydney with high rates of coverage included Ku-ring-gai (more than 93 per cent of people aged 15 and over), Blacktown (more than 92 per cent), Hornsby (about 92 per cent) and Campbelltown (more than 90 per cent).
In regional NSW, Orange, Warren, Narromine, Lachlan and Gilgandra all hit 90 per cent first-dose vaccination last week. In the Murray River region, the rate is now above 95 per cent.
From 12pm, kids aged under 18 in lockdown areas across the state can visit their friends’ houses.
The new measure, approved at NSW crisis cabinet on Monday, allows children from fully vaccinated households to nominate two friends who are allowed to come to their house to play.
Victoria reported another record number of local coronavirus cases in its outbreak on Tuesday: there were 603 new infections reported by the state and one death.
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