Covid cases explode in Sydney suburbs despite 'flattening curve'
NSW Health authorities are “especially worried” about the expansion of Covid infections in Sydney suburbs despite flattening the curve of coronavirus transmission.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Monday inner-city suburbs including Glebe and Redfern are among areas authorities are concerned about transmission.
NSW Health data shows Glebe and Forest Lodge currently have 53 active cases of coronavirus while Redfern, Waterloo and Zetland have more than 100.
“We have seen also an increase in cases as we mentioned yesterday and the day before in the inner city areas of Glebe and Redfern and we ask communities in those areas to please come forward and get vaccinated but also to make sure they're sticking to the Covid restrictions,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The premier added authorities are “especially worried” about these suburbs “because it’s vulnerable communities”.
NSW reported 1257 new local Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, as well as seven deaths. Greater Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26, more than 11 weeks ago.
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It’s hoped the lockdown will end in mid-October. By then it’s expected more than 70 per cent of the population will be fully-vaccinated.
Experts say Covid transmission curve is flattening
A number of epidemiologists have said they believe the curve is beginning to flatten in NSW.
Chair of epidemiology at Deakin University Catherine Bennett told the ABC the reproductive rate of the virus in NSW is beginning to lower to 1. Since the outbreak it’s been at 1.3, meaning for every 10 people sick with Covid, they infected 13 others.
"Sydney's looking quite good, for two weeks we've seen this consistent downward push on the reproductive number. In fact, for the last week it's been sitting steady at 1, and that's what you need to see for that flattening of the curve," Professor Bennett told the ABC.
Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman from the University of South Australia said that does not necessarily mean case numbers in NSW have peaked just yet but added he has seen the growth slow down.
On Friday, more than 1500 cases of community-transmitted coronavirus were recorded with almost 1600 on Saturday but on Sunday they dropped to below 1300.
Some restrictions were eased in Sydney on Monday, with up to five fully vaccinated adults who live outside the 12 Sydney Covid-19 hotspots areas now able to gather outdoors within five kilometres of their home.
Vaccinated households that live in the 12 local government areas of concern can gather outdoors for recreation for two hours outside curfew hours and within five kilometres of home.
with AAP
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