Covid NSW: Man in his 20s among 7 deaths, 1262 new cases
NSW has recorded 1262 new locally-acquired Covid cases and seven deaths as the state edges closer to new "freedoms".
There were 105,505 Covid test carried out to 8pm last night, compared to 147,975 in the previous 24 hour reporting period.
Among the seven deaths was a man aged in his 20s, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the man had underlying health conditions and was not vaccinated.
However, she urged people to still be cautious.
"I just want to make the point, that while you are likely to have more severe Covid if you are older and have underlying health conditions, even previously healthy people of all ages can get severe disease and die," she said.
"So please, do not be at all complacent."
Across NSW 78.1 per cent of people aged over 16 have had the first dose of a Covid vaccine, with 45.6 per cent fully vaccinated.
Dr Chant said she wants to see the state reach 80 per cent of the state receive one dose of vaccine next week and is confident that will happen.
"Then my challenge to the New South Wales community is to get to 90 per cent the following week," she said.
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She also flagged areas outside the LGAs of concern which are seeing an increase in cases, including Glebe, Camperdown, Redfern and Waterloo.
The majority of cases remains in south west and western Sydney.
"Across the state, you need to be vigilant, we can't be complacent anywhere," she said.
There are currently 1206 COVID-19 patients in NSW in hospital, with 220 in intensive care and 92 ventilated.
Cases are expected to peak in the next week, putting significant strain on hospitals and ambulances.
Gatherings, socialising 'not what we need'
Dr Chant was asked how she felt about the images of people at the beach on Saturday and said she acknowledged people out west are currently subject to tough lockdown restrictions.
"It causes me some concern because clearly, I'm asking a lot of the people of south-western Sydney and Western Sydney," she said.
She said she does not want to see crowds of people socialising and gathering.
"That is not what we need at this moment," she said.
"We do not need people to be breaking the public health orders as we don't want many more spot fires."
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she knows people are tired of lockdown, but the state needs to stay the course, as the next two months will be the "most challenging".
Sunday marks the end of daily press conferences in NSW, though the health department will release a video with updates every day and Berejiklian and health officials will present themselves "on a needs basis".
"I will not necessarily be the one providing the information on a daily basis, and that is because, as I have said, I need a clear head," she reiterated on Sunday.
NSW recorded 1599 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and eight deaths, while the impact on the state's health system not due to peak until October.
More to come.
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