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NSW lifts curfew as it reaches crucial vaccine milestone

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NSW has confirmed another 1259 local COVID cases – and a record 12 deaths – as it reaches a crucial vaccination milestone.

Wednesday’s cases bounced up again after just over 1100 on Tuesday, reversing a recent trend of falling numbers.

It was also the highest daily tally of COVID deaths yet for the state. They take its toll from the current outbreak to 198.

They were women in their 30s, 50s, 60s, two in their 70s and two in their 80s, as well as one man in his 50s, two in their 60s and two more men aged in their 70s and 90s.

In positive news, the state has reached 80 per cent of eligible people with a single COVID vaccine – prompting another major announcement from Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

“Given we’ve hit the 80 per cent milestone across the state, we’re able to lift the curfew in those areas of concern from tonight,” she said.

“This is a whole-of-government decision based on a number of factors but I want to send this strong message – we can’t move on anything else just now. We need everybody to hold the line.

“Please make sure that if you live in those local government areas of concern that you stick to every other rule that’s in place. We’ve seen a stabilisation in the past few days and we don’t want to see that trend go the wrong way.”

The 9pm-5am curfew has applied to millions of residents of the 12 Sydney local government areas that have borne the brunt of the outbreak for weeks.

“We still have work to do. We can all see the light at the end of the tunnel but we still have work to do,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“To reach our first dose of 80 per cent is a huge tribute to everybody in the community and some of our communities in western and south-western Sydney have vaccination rates closer to 90 per cent. [That’s] just an outstanding result compared to where we’ve been and where we are today.”

Across NSW, 47.5 per cent of the population over 16 is fully vaccinated against COVID.

Ms Berejiklian said if the rising vaccination trend continued, the state would be able to reopen at its 70 per cent double-dose target and “feel confidence that we won’t overwhelm the hospital system and we’ll enjoy those freedoms we’re all looking forward to”. The state is expected to reach the 70 per cent milestone within weeks.

Under the NSW government’s roadmap, vaccinated people will then be released from lockdown.

“I want to make that clear. It’s black and white. If you’re not vaccinated, you can’t go to a restaurant, you can’t go to a cafe,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“At 70 per cent double dose, everybody, every business leader, every community member should be very clear that the health orders will be saying that you cannot go and do anything on the road map, which was specified, unless you are completely vaccinated.”

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