Thread by @NSWHealth

To Friday 7 January across NSW, 95.1 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.7 per cent have received two doses.

Of the people aged 12 to 15, 81.5 per cent have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.1 per cent have received two doses.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 14,031,782 with 4,477,952 administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 9,553,830 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11.59pm on Friday 7 January 2022.

NSW Health encourages everyone who is eligible to book into a NSW Health vaccination clinic or another provider without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are now available for people aged 18 and over. People aged 18 years and over are eligible for a booster if they had their second dose at least four months ago.

We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19.

We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose.

NSW Health vaccination clinics across the state will begin to administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 years old from tomorrow, Monday January 10.

NSW Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to make a booking for vaccination at any NSW Health vaccination clinic, at a general practitioner, or a community pharmacy.

Sadly NSW Health is reporting the deaths of 16 people; eight women and eight men aged in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Seven people were from south western Sydney, two people were from south eastern Sydney, two people were from western Sydney,

two people were from Sydney’s inner west, one person was from the central coast, one person was from the south coast, and one person was from northern Sydney.

NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones.

There are currently 1,927 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 151 people in intensive care, 38 of whom require ventilation.

There were 98,986 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 116,915.

NSW recorded 30,062 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

124 COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 455,340.

The NSW Government has announced a range of precautionary measures to provide additional support for the health system and community ahead of an anticipated peak in COVID cases later this month.

Critical workers in the food logistics and manufacturing sectors furloughed as close contacts will be permitted to leave self-isolation to attend work if they have no symptoms of COVID-19, to ensure the state has continued access to essential goods.

Workers will only be eligible to leave self-isolation if their employer determines that their absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of critical services or activities, and they are unable to work from home.

To alleviate pressure on the hospital system and staff, the usual holiday suspension of non-urgent elective surgery will be extended through to February. Private hospital capacity will be utilised where needed, as was the case during the Alpha and Delta outbreaks.

Public health orders will also be updated next week to include a requirement that people report their positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results, to link people with COVID-19 to health support and advice.

Singing and dancing is prohibited in hospitality venues (including pubs, clubs, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants), entertainment facilities, and major recreation facilities until 27 January.

This prohibition does not apply for weddings, or for students and instructors and performers in the settings listed above.

People are at risk of developing COVID-19 for 14 days after they were last in contact with a COVID-positive person, so it is important to take precautions during this time.

While most people will become positive within the first week after exposure, around a quarter of people exposed to COVID-19 will develop their infection in the following seven days.

If you have had a high-risk interaction with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to exercise caution and avoid high-risk settings and large indoor gatherings for 14 days after you last had contact with them.

Of the 30,062 cases reported to 8pm last night, 5,077 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 5,077 are from Western Sydney LHD, 4,442 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 3,184 are from Sydney LHD, 2,527 are from Hunter New England LHD,

2,505 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 1,535 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 1,386 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 1,121 are from Central Coast LHD, 1,027 are from Northern NSW LHD, 506 are from Murrumbidgee LHD, 453 are from Mid North Coast LHD, 412 are from Western NSW LHD,

308 are from Southern NSW LHD, 38 are from Far West LHD, one is in a correctional setting, one is in hotel quarantine and 462 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the self-isolation rules.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms it is still important that you have a test and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result.

There are COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit nsw.gov.au/stay-safe/test… or contact your GP.

Video of today’s update is available here:
vimeo.com/663806707/19c8…