Source: ABCnews
New South Wales has recorded 399 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.
There were 85,000 tests undertaken in the reporting period.
There are now 677 COVID patients in hospitals across the state, with 145 people in intensive care.
Despite NSW Health pandemic modelling suggesting October would be the worst month for hospitalisations and intensive care admissions, hospital admissions have trended downwards since October 1, falling from 1,055 to 677.
The number of people in intensive care has also fallen, dropping from 210 at the beginning of the month to 145 today.
However, Premier Dominic Perrottet warned on Monday — which he dubbed “Freedom Day” — that the expected surge of cases from loosening restrictions may not appear for up to two weeks.
This morning Deputy Premier Paul Toole announced the restart of regional travel for Greater Sydney residents had been pushed back to November 1.
Regional travel had been promised to Sydneysiders once the state reached its 80 per cent vaccination target — which is expected to happen this weekend.
But the plan has been delayed after mayors from the regions said they were worried about potential community transmission due to unequal vaccination rates outside metro areas.
In the Byron Bay Local Government Area (LGA), only 47.1 per cent of those eligible to get a vaccine have had two doses.
The Hunter region’s Cessnock LGA, and the Clarence Valley LGA in the state’s north, also have low vaccination rates, at 58.4 per cent and 56.6 per cent respectively.
Mr Toole said he realised the delay was “frustrating” for those who had planned trips or reunions with family outside Greater Sydney.
“It isn’t an easy decision … but we have a responsibility to make sure we keep our regional community safe,” he said.
“It is important we don’t open up businesses and start to see them having case numbers escalate, putting those communities and businesses in jeopardy.”
