New South Wales saw its highest ever daily increase of Covid infections at 319 cases. This is despite the state continuing to struggle with an increasing crisis.Five deaths were also reported by the state. Three of these deaths are related to an outbreak at Liverpool Hospital, Sydneys west. This was caused when a health worker became infected and transferred coronavirus patients to patients.Five people have died in the hospital outbreak. The latest deaths include a woman in her 80s as well as a man aged 80 and a man who was in his 90s. A man in his 60s, and an 80-year-old man from the inner west also died.Dr Jeremy McAnulty, NSW Health, said that none of those who died were vaccinated. The latest outbreak has now claimed 27 lives.He said that none of the five deaths, or people who died, were not vaccinated. We extend our sincere condolences to their families.After two cases last Friday, the virus is still spreading to the region, with Armidale being the latest LGA to be locked down.Brad Hazzard, the NSW health minister, stated that if I lived in the area, I wouldn't be leaving the house today.I would stay at home. I wouldn't be visiting my friends and I would make sure I was protecting myself and my family.Hazzard suggested that the infection may have occurred after a young man entered the area and passed the virus on to another resident.The lockdown will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday and last until midnight Sunday 15 August. It will be identical to those in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.The state has recorded 125 new cases that are related to cases previously, and 108 cases are household contacts from cases previously. After Friday's 108,449 test results, 194 cases remain under investigation.There were four new cases in Newcastle among young people, with two of them living on campus at the University of Newcastle.McAnulty said that the virus was also detected in Dubbo's sewage, although there are no known cases. McAnulty urged Dubbo residents to come forward for testing.Hazzard reported that nearly 50% of the state received their first dose, and that the number of vaccines being administered is increasing by 5% each week.Today's great news is that our doses for the first dose to population 16 and over have exceeded 50%. This is a significant step forward, he stated.We are now at 22% for those who have been fully vaccinated and rising at 5% per week.He also announced that there will be a huge day for Sydney's food providers on Sunday. All food-related workers will be invited to get vaccinated at the Sydney Olympic Park hub.McAnulty stated that authorities were still witnessing rising numbers in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA which was currently the No. 1 area for new cases.He said that it was our most prominent LGA. People living in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA should exercise extreme caution.Hazzard stated that compliance in the region was still a problem. He highlighted small businesses as an area that required improvement but did not mention any additional restrictions.He said that Canterbury-Bankstown is a great area for smaller and larger workplaces.We are seeing more workplaces, especially with distribution centers, and they are doing a great job. However, smaller businesses are not as successful.Hazzard also reacted to comments made by Paul Kelly, the chief medical officer of the country, who said on Friday that the state needed a circuit breaker to refocus its efforts.Hazzard stated that he has not yet revealed what the circuit breaker would look like. It just expresses our concerns, which is why the circuit breaker in NSW is required for everyone to follow the rules.
