NSW hits incredible 70% fully-vaccinated against Covid

NSW has finally hit its 70 per cent vaccination target, triggering the end of four months of gruelling lockdown with many restriction to be eased on Monday as scheduled. 

The state reached the major milestone on Wednesday, with the official figures to be revealed at Thursday morning’s press conference. 

NSW Health data now shows over 70 per cent of NSW residents over 15 have been double-jabbed with close to 90 per cent receiving at least one dose.

That means from October 11, fully-vaccinated residents will once again be able to go to restaurants, pubs, cafes, retails stores, gyms and attend personal services like hair dressers.

Up to five people will also be allowed to gather in the home with 20 in outdoor settings.

But NSW residents will still need to wait under October 25 when 80 per cent are double-dosed before regional travel and large events are given the green light. 

Newly-appointed NSW premier Dominic Perrottet broke the long-awaited news on Twitter.

‘Bam. We’ve hit 70% of over-16s double vaccinated in NSW,’ he posted.

‘This is great news and big step closer to a full reopening and a proper summer.

‘Some restrictions will ease from Monday October 11, so keep up-to-date with NSW Health.’

Rumours have been swirling the Mr Perrottet is keen to see restrictions lift as soon as possible Wednesday’s crisis cabinet set to discuss possible changed to the state’s roadmap tonight.

This could see school children return to the classroom sooner and allow religious services to presume will more freedoms.

‘I am not going to pre-empt those discussions,’ Mr Perrottet said.

‘At the cabinet meeting this afternoon there will be further discussions in relation to the road map.

‘I have had discussions with the health team and the minister and Dr Chant this morning around a whole range of issues in relation to COVID situation.

‘We will be considering those matters this afternoon at the crisis cabinet.’

Vaccination rates as of Monday 4 October 2021 – the last official numbers – show 67.7 per cent are fully vaccinated with 88.6 per cent receiving their first dose.

On Wednesday as the state recorded 594 new Covid cases, the fewest since August 18, the 70 per cent market was eclipsed.

But it wasn’t all good news with the state also recorded 10 more deaths from the virus – seven men and three women.

One of the deceased was in their 40s, one in their 60s, four in their 70s, two in their 80s, and two in their 90s.

Three of them were double-vaccinated, four had received one jab and three were unvaccinated. 

The fatalities bring the state’s death toll from the latest outbreak to 395 and the total number since the start of the pandemic to 451. 

Key to the transition out of lockdown will be an economic recovery plan which the recently sworn-in premier will unveil this week.

Mr Perrottet said while the economy had taken a significant beating during the lockdown, which began in June, he expects the state to ‘bounce back very quickly’.

‘As we head into December and over the summer period as businesses open… we’re going to have a very bright summer,’ he said.

‘What we’ll see is a stronger economy on the other side.’

Mr Perrottet is also determined to get workers back into offices to breathe life back into major CBDs ‘this year and as quickly as possible’, but he acknowledged mandatory mask-wearing in offices is an impediment.

Under the roadmap, masks remain compulsory in indoor environments until December.

He told 2GB radio this morning that after 15 weeks of harsh restrictions for long-suffering Sydneysiders, ‘there’s a number of areas within the roadmap that can be looked at.’

However he admitted any changes would need to be agreed upon by health officials as the state’s recovery could be crippled if the hospital system is overwhelmed by a surge of Covid-19 cases.