abc– NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned “things are going to get worse” as the state recorded 50 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday — the highest daily number of the current outbreak.
The number of coronavirus patients in hospital grew to 47, including a 16-year-old who is in intensive care.
Of the new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 8:00pm on Friday, 37 were in the community for all or part of their infectious period.
Police issued 167 infringement notices to people breaching public health orders.
That is the highest daily number since the current outbreak began last month.
The Delta COVID-19 variant has infected 489 people since NSW’s outbreak began last month, and Ms Berejiklian said the lockdown, affecting Greater Sydney and its surrounds, would likely need to be extended.
It’s due to finish at midnight this Friday.
The stay-at-home orders have been tightened, and Ms Berejiklian said it may take several days before any improvement is seen in the state’s position.
She said having 37 people infectious in the community was too high.
“That is the number we need to get down to as close to zero as possible,” she said.
“The only conclusion we can draw is that things are going to get worse before they get better.”
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said the fact a teenager was in intensive care was worrying.
“That case is not ventilated but obviously we don’t release information about individual cases, but I think it is a salient lesson that COVID can impact across all age groups,” she said.
There is also a person in their twenties and another in their thirties in ICU.
Nobody in intensive care is fully vaccinated, and Dr Chant asked that people continue to go and get the jab.
“Two doses of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer is incredibly effective at preventing hospitalisation and death which is an incredibly positive contribution,” she said.
“Please continue to get vaccinated.”
Twenty-nine of the new infections were in Sydney’s south-west.
The Premier has emphasised the need for anyone found to be infected to be as honest with authorities as possible.
“I do want to state that out of those 50 cases, the vast majority of those cases — and I can’t stress this enough — are close family or friends of people who have COVID,” she said.
“So, people are getting the virus and then spreading it to those closest to them.
“If you truly love your parents, your sisters, your best friends, please stick to the rules.”
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys highlighted ongoing cases of people breaking the rules by holding parties, one in Randwick and one on the Central Coast.
He said 167 infringement notices were issued on Friday for people breaking the state’s lockdown rules.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys said the vast majority of people in south-west Sydney were doing the right thing and their actions had been “commendable”.
He said police resources would now be moved around the south Sydney suburbs of Jannali and Miranda, after Friday’s crackdown in Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown.
“The health advice tells us that we need to be there to make sure people comply and stay home,” he said.
