AS the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of COVID continue to grow, NSW residents are being encouraged to practice COVIDsafe behaviours and stay up-to-date with their COVID vaccinations.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard in concerned that number of people who become seriously ill and the death toll from COVID will rise significantly if people become complacent in getting their booster shots and practicing COVIDsafe behaviours.
“We are at the beginning of the third wave of Omicron which is likely to peak in late July or early August,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This increase in community transmission brings with it greatly increased risks for those not up to date with their vaccines.
“The best way you can protect yourself from serious illness or worse is to get every vaccination that is available to you.”
According to data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, those who are fully vaccinated have 65 percent greater protection against hospitalisation or death from Omicron that those with just two vaccine doses.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant is also cautioning people to “exercise common sense” when it comes to face masks, hand hygiene, social distancing, staying home when ill and testing.
“Unless we pull together as one again, this new wave will hit schools and businesses hard, just like BA.1 did, which saw thousands of workers absent,” Dr Chant said.
As of 4pm on July 7, there were 133,272 active COVID cases in NSW, with 1901 admitted to hospital, 60 of those in intensive care, and 20 requiring ventilation. The total number of deaths of NSW people since the beginning of the pandemic now sits at 3668.
Locally, there have been 33 cases of COVID in the Balranald LGA over the last four weeks.
