9.22pm EDT21:22
Brad Hazzard says 16 people have tested positive after Maroubra party
Updated
at 9.24pm EDT
9.12pm EDT21:12
NSW outbreak linked to gathering of 16 in Maroubra
New South Wales authorities are also looking into an outbreak linked to a gathering of 16 people at Maroubra. Attendees and close contacts at that gathering have tested positive.
The premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says she extends her “deepest appreciation for the vast majority of people doing the right thing”.
“The vast majority get how important it is to stay at home. I receive messages every day from people who express their personal circumstances about how difficult it is and it really breaks my heart.
“The bottom line is they know they are doing it for the greater good. I appeal to everybody, please consider the greater good. Only a handful of people are doing the wrong thing but it is having catastrophic consequences.”
Updated
at 9.13pm EDT
9.10pm EDT21:10
NSW press conference:
There are 516 people in hospital in NSW, 85 are in intensive care and 29 on ventilators.
New South Wales has also recorded three more deaths. Two men were residents at Greenwood aged care home in Normanhurst. A man in his 90s who was unvaccinated; and a man in his 80s who had received two doses.
Both men had significant underlying health issues, NSW authorities say.
The third was a woman in her 90s from south-west Sydney.
Updated
at 9.11pm EDT
9.07pm EDT21:07
NSW press conference:
Gladys Berejiklian is speaking after announcing 825 new cases.
“The Delta strain is like nothing we’ve ever seen before and even in very harsh lockdowns, the virus is spreading. That is a fact,” she says.
“What we need to do is protect ourselves and loved ones by staying at home and getting vaccinated. But also being assured that once we hit 70% double-dose vaccination, then 80% double-dose vaccination, our national plans [are that we will] live freely or more freely than what we are now. It is absolutely what we need to stay focused on.”
Updated
at 9.13pm EDT
