NSW and Victoria Covid cases could hit over 2000 a day in October

Covid cases continue to grow across Australia as states and territories set vaccination targets for lockdown exit. There has been a marked shift in focus from virus case numbers to vaccination numbers as Covid-19 cases grow across Australia.

NSW has recorded 1533 new cases, the highest daily total during this pandemic, and four new deaths. While western Sydney continues to see the majority of cases, regional parts of the state are also seeing increasing COVID-19 numbers. NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard has urged people to come forward to get vaccinated.

Epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman says the reproductive rate of the Covid in NSW is remaining steady, and not increasing, despite an increase in cases today. His predictions have been fairly accurate so far, and he says the state should hit 2000 cases a day by September 10.

The premier Gladys Berejiklian previously stated that her governmnet will start easing restrictions once 70 per cent eligible people have received the vaccination.

"Once you get to October and 70% double dose, the chance of our citizens, the proportion of our citizens ending up in hospital or intensive care greatly reduces so we have to be aware of those facts”

A total of 72 per cent of the population aged 16 and over have now received at least one dose of a vaccine in NSW, with a 39 per cent fully vaccinated.

Victoria has recorded 190 new Covid-19 cases overnight as Daniel Andrews considers granting vaccinated residents more freedoms. 

The Victorian premier hopes to start easing restrictions once 70 per cent of Victorians have received their first jab. The vaccination target could be achieved as early as September 23. 

There are growing fears Victoria could follow the same path as NSW, with one expert predicting cases could hit over 2000 a day very soon. According to epidemiologist Tony Blakely, the current increase in cases could see figures peak to 2000 a day in October.

Addressing media today, the state’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton admitted there was “every possibility” Victoria is on a similar outbreak trajectory to Sydney.

“I think a lot of people are a bit concerned now that we’re on the same trajectory as Sydney and we’re maybe three or four weeks behind Sydney,” he said.

Despite trying to avoid a NSW-style outbreak, this week’s increasing numbers suggest Victoria’s Covid cases will continue to increase.

After recording 73 cases on Monday, they jumped to a high of 209 cases on Friday, with Professor Sutton stating that they’ve yet to reach their peak.

Victoria s now battling 1301 active cases, with over 400 children infected with the virus. According to the latest numbers, 76 people are in hospital, with 23 people in intensive care and 14 people on ventilators.

The ACT has recorded 32 new local coronavirus cases. Twenty-four of the cases are linked to current exposure sites or close contacts, however, only eight were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period. The territory’s Chief Minister Andrew Barr said 10 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in the ACT, with two of those in intensive care, and one on a ventilator. He added that while half of Saturday’s new cases were close household contacts, the number of people in the community while infectious was very concerning.

Meanwhile Queensland has recorded two new virus cases on Saturday, as the state keeps a watchful eye for any resurgence of the Delta strain. One of the cases was detected in hotel quarantine, and the other was a four-year-old girl already announced on Friday evening, who was a close contact of a truck driver who previously tested positive.