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Covid NSW: 199 new cases as premier sets four-week target

  • NSW reports 199 new cases of coronavirus

  • Premier Gladys Berejiklian reveals August vaccine goal

  • The NSW Government is looking at incentives to drive roll-out

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has set an ambitious vaccine target for NSW, as the state announced 199 more locally acquired cases of Covid-19.

She told reporters on Tuesday she wants to hit 6 million jabs by the end of August.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media during a COVID-19 update and press conference in Sydney, Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Source: AAP
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants six million people vaccinated by the end of the month. Source: AAP Image

"We're at 3.9 million. I suspect we'll be at 4 million by the end of the week, or in the next few days and that's a target I'd like to set for NSW and I'm really urging everybody to come forward, to listen to the health advice," she said.

The Premier explained the six million jab goal means roughly half the NSW population would have one or two doses by the end of the month, increasing the chances of restrictions easing at the end of the month.

"That gives us additional options as to what life looks like on 29 August," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We don't know whether we're through the worst of it or not with the case numbers and that's our issue. We don't know if we've peaked or it's going to get worse," she warned.

"Even one dose of the vaccine reduces the likelihood of how transmissible you are, how contagious you are. So not only is the vaccine really important to keep you out of hospital, to protect your loved ones, but it reduces the number of people you may infect and that's really important to consider when you're in the middle of an outbreak."

Lockdown lifting remains biggest vaccine motivator

The Premier didn't rule out offering incentives for vaccines but stopped short of supporting Labor's $300 payment proposal.

"Look, we're looking at incentives for some time in the New South Wales government. We're focusing on what we believe people want at this stage. They want peace of mind that they can move more freely, send their kids to school, work," she said.

For now, the easing of restrictions remains biggest incentive for NSW residents after almost six weeks in lockdown.

"We know if we encourage people to get vaccinated to provide them with additional freedoms that that is the best motivator of all."

A supplied image obtained on Monday, July 19, 2021, shows inside the newly opened mass vaccination centre in Belmont, Lake Macquarie. Source: AAP
The Premier's goal of six million jabs means roughly half the NSW population would have one or two doses by the end of the month. Source: AAP

But with at least 50 people infectious in the community, the Premier reiterated any changes to the current restrictions will be based on both vaccination rates and case numbers.

"That number of 50 infectious in the community - the closer that is to zero, the greater the freedom we'll have, but the further away from zero it is, the less freedom we'll have and that stands to reason," she said.

"We need everybody to work hard to get the case numbers down and also to get our vaccination rates as high as possible."

NSW Covid-19 cases

  • NSW has recorded 199 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19

  • At least 50 of the cases were in the community for the entirety of their infectious period

  • Another 47 remain under investigation

  • There are currently 250 people being treated for Covid-19 in hospital

  • 53 of those in intensive care, with 20 on ventilators

  • It brings the total number of cases connected to the latest outbreak to 3,832

NSW Vaccination roll-out

  • More than 25,312 Covid-19 vaccines were administered in the 24 hours

  • In total, more than 3,968,811doses have been given by the NSW health department

  • A further 2,433,793 by GPs

  • Just under 20 per cent of the NSW population is fully vaccinated

  • Around 42 per cent of people have received their second dose

More Covid-19 updates

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