For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.
NSW has reported 623 new local coronavirus cases on Monday, as well as the deaths of six people with the virus, all from Sydney’s west.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, from NSW Health, said 67.1 per cent of residents aged 16 and over were now fully vaccinated, as the state moves closer to its 70 per cent target, which will see restrictions ease for people who are double-dosed.
NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty provided Monday’s COVID-19 update for the state. Credit:Nick Moir
In the same age group, 88.4 per cent of people have received a first dose.
There were 76,892 tests processed during the reporting period. Testing rates are usually lower on Mondays and Tuesdays as they reflect weekend attendance.
One of the people who died was a man in his 60s from south-west Sydney who is the third person to die in a cluster at Campbelltown Hospital, which began when an infectious patient was transferred from Liverpool Hospital.
Another of the deaths was a woman in her 90s who was a resident at Hawkesbury Living Nursing Home in Sydney’s north-west, who is the fourth resident to die in that outbreak.
Of the other deaths, one was in their 40s, two were in their 60s and one person was in their 70s.
The aged care resident was fully vaccinated. Four of the other people who died were unvaccinated and one had received one dose.
At present, 959 patients are being treated or COVID-19 infections in NSW hospitals, with 193 in ICU.
About 15,000 additional doses of a new COVID-19 treatment already showing promise in Sydney’s hospitals will arrive in Australia this week.
Sotrovimab, a novel monoclonal antibody treatment administered by a one-time intravenous infusion, was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on August 20.
The treatment has been shown to reduce hospitalisation or death by 79 per cent for adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 at risk of developing a more severe disease.
Professor Greg Dore, an infectious diseases physician at St Vincent’s Hospital, said the treatment was having a “potential impact” on reducing intensive care numbers, and was particularly useful as it could be administered to people receiving treatment for COVID-19 at home during a short appointment.
“We just bring them in for a couple of hours … it is administered over 30 minutes or half an hour and a half observation period after that they go home,” he explained.
In a statement, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the treatment “has the potential to protect Australians from developing serious disease, and reduce hospitalisations and death in people who are at high risk from COVID-19″.
“Vaccination, however, continues to remain the most important and safest way for Australians to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19,” he said.
Australia has increased its orders of the treatment from 7700 doses to over 31,000 doses, with the remaining doses to arrive in the next few months.
There were 1377 new cases reported in Victoria today, amid fears of growing case numbers in Melbourne’s south-east.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in National
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
