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An infant and young child are among 72 people in NSW on ventilators in intensive care units, as the Prime Minister warns the number of cases in Australia’s most populous state still has fifteen days to increase.
Gladys Berejikilian reiterated that in October, the number of people hospitalized and requiring intensive care will peak before declining as vaccination rates slow the rate of serious illness.
“This is the most critical time to deal with the disease for us,” she told reporters on Sunday.
“All of the modeling tells us that the peak is likely to be here within the next week or two and the peak in hospitalization and intensive care is likely to be with us in October.”
NSW recorded 1,485 new cases within 24 hours to 8 p.m. Saturday and three deaths.
There were 1,030 Covid patients in NSW hospitals: 175 of them were in intensive care and 72 needed ventilators to breathe.
NSW Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty has confirmed that three children are in intensive care in Sydney, two of whom are on ventilators, including a baby.
“This is in the context of more than 2,000… children in the care of the network of children’s hospitals. So unfortunately, but rarely, people, including children, need intensive care, ”he said.
“Overall, children do very well with Covid-19, but there is always a spectrum of illnesses of any age group. “
Berejiklian said that if the number of cases continues to rise, the rate of serious illness will decline as more people across the state gain access to vaccines and the government may consider easing restrictions.
“When we get through the next few weeks, we’ll all feel more confident of how we’re going to do in October. What I have in mind is the 70% double dose vaccination [rate], which will ensure all the freedoms enjoyed by those of us who are vaccinated.
The premier said she was confident the state’s health care system could cope with the expected increase in hospitalizations.
She also said 40% of the population of NSW was now fully vaccinated.
“It is an incredible step to take given where we were a few months ago,” said the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 183 new cases on Sunday, 91% of which were in people under the age of 50.
Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews has declared the Covid epidemic in that state to be an “unvaccinated pandemic”.
The highly transmissible Delta strain hits younger cohorts who haven’t had the same chance to get vaccinated as older groups.
“The age breakdown confirms this is an unvaccinated pandemic,” Andrews said.
Victoria has had 89 cases in hospital and 24 in intensive care, with 13 people on ventilators.
“Only one hospitalized person has been fully vaccinated, again, which points out that if you are protected against a double dose… then you are almost certain to avoid very serious illness,” Andrews said.
Victoria has 1,714 active cases: 216 cases are aged 0-9 years; 232 are aged 10 to 19; 348 are in their twenties; and 245 are in their thirties.
The ACT recorded 15 new local cases on Sunday. Of these, 13 were linked to existing cases, while six were isolated throughout their infectious period and seven for part of it.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said restrictions were not to ease this week. Over 85% of ACT’s Covid-19 cases were under the age of 45.
A majority of those who recently tested positive waited at least two days after experiencing symptoms to get tested.
Barr said more than 70% of the ACT-eligible population had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Queensland has registered a new locally acquired Covid case, the mother of a four-year-old girl who tested positive on Friday. The mother was isolated.
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