NSW reported 452 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 and one death, with at least 54 people circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.
An unvaccinated woman in her 70s from western Sydney died in Westmead Hospital after the state recorded eight deaths on Monday.
NSW Health also advised there were 10 new cases in the Hunter, taking the total number in the current outbreak to 130.
Five appeared in the Maitland LGA, with three in the Lake Macquarie LGA and a further two in the Newcastle LGA.
Nine are linked to previously reported cases, while one is still under investigation.
Sadly, six were infectious while in the community – with three during their entire period.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro also said resources were being focused on “the vulnerable community in western NSW”.
“We have a health system that is supported across the board and my message to everybody in regional and rural NSW is to get vaccinated,” he stated.
“Don’t get caught up in the AstraZeneca versus Pfizer debate.
“The reality is we don’t have that debate when it comes to flu shots each and every year.
“We get the shot.
“I don’t want to see a future where regional communities are behind the target set by the government because of a lacklustre approach to getting vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, southwest and western Sydney suburbs continue to be the main generators for most of the cases, according to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday.
The isolation status of 297 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday remains under investigation.
Some 75% cases in NSW were people under 40.
“And that’s why those extra jabs we receive from the Commonwealth will be put straight into the arms of 16-to-39-year-olds in the local government areas of concern,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
The premier said life would be “much freer than what it is today”, once the state reaches 70% and 80% vaccination targets.
The entire state is now locked down and a 21-day police blitz came into effect on Monday to enforce new regulations with almost 18,000 police officers supported by 800 members of the Australian Defence Force.
NSW police issued nearly 600 infringement notices to people flouting tough new health orders on the first day of a three-week crackdown as the state continues to report escalating coronavirus numbers.
Police conducted 3800 welfare checks to see if people were following stay-at-home orders, too.
One COVID positive man from the hotspot of Fairfield in Sydney’s southwest wasn’t home when police arrived and was later unable to provide an excuse for his actions, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Tuesday.
Tougher non-compliance fines of up to $5000 are in place with people confined to within five kilometres of their homes.
Sydney hospitals are also dealing with staff shortages as COVID clusters send workers into isolation at Nepean and St George Hospitals.
A South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said four inpatients and two staff had tested positive for COVID-19 in the oncology ward at St George Hospital.
“All 21 patients on the oncology ward have been tested and been in isolation since the first patient tested positive. The ward is currently closed to new admissions,” the spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The two staff members who tested positive are both fully vaccinated, while three patients have had one dose of the vaccine and one patient has not been vaccinated.
Four COVID-positive inmates are also being housed at the remand centre of Silverwater Jail, including two cases uncovered over the weekend. Their source of infection is being investigated.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says the government needs to ensure frontline healthcare workers are adequately protected from COVID.
“Doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers have been raising the alarm that they did not have adequate personal protective equipment such as correctly fitted N95 face masks,” she said on Tuesday.
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