“Particularly sadly,none of these people vaccinated,” Mr Hazzard said of the deaths,which included a person in their 30s. “All had underlying health conditions. I extend my deepest sympathies to each and every one of those people’s families and friends.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Saturday.Anna Kucera
There have now been 170 deaths since June and 226 since the start of the pandemic last year.
There are 1164 people currently hospitalised,with 221 in intensive care and 94 requiring ventilation.
There were 147,975 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm on Friday night,compared with the previous day’s total of 133,226.
More than 114,000 people received immunisation shots on Friday to take the number of vaccine doses administered in NSW to more than 8 million. More than 77 per cent of the state’s eligible population have had one dose and 44.5 per cent of those eligible are fully vaccinated.
Mr Hazzard said he was more worried about unvaccinated people than large crowds taking advantage of the warm weather and heading to the beach this weekend.
“I think that the fresh air,we know that it is the safest place to be at the present time,” he said.
“But I would say to people who are out and about to maintain your social distance and to just be careful. Generally people have been really,really good. I know the media will have photos today of people out and about ... but I think generally that’s a very safe place to be.”
Earlier,Victoria recorded 450 new local cases of COVID-19 with 75 of the new locally acquired cases have been linked to known outbreaks.
Meanwhile,Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned parts of south-east parts of the state may have to go into lockdown within days after five new local cases were reported on Saturday,but for now the region will remain open.
Eight deaths in NSW in current reporting period