There are 141 new cases of Covid-19 in New South Wales and and another two people have died - one a woman in her thirties, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at a briefing.
File photo Photo: AFP
Of the new cases, 38 people were infectious while out in the community.
Gladys Berejiklian Photo: AFP
Berejiklian said the two deaths include a woman in her 70s and a woman in her 30s with no pre-existing conditions.
"If anybody think this is a disease just affecting older people, please think again," she said.
"Again, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to those families, their loved ones who are grieving today, but please note that younger people without pre-existing conditions can also fall victim to this cruel disease."
Of the locally acquired cases, 87 are linked to a known case or cluster - 71 are household contacts and 16 are close contacts - and the source of infection for 54 cases is under investigation.
Sixty-five cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 24 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period, Berejiklian said.
Thirty-eight cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 14 cases remains under investigation.
There have been 2081 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.
There were 163 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in the region yesterday. Of those, 45 were out out in the community while infectious.
Yesterday's announcement was followed by chaotic scenes in the Sydney CBD as thousands of people protested against the current lockdown in New South Wales. Dozens of protesters were arrested.
Two charged over hitting police horses
Two men have been charged with hitting police horses during yesterday's anti-lockdown protest in Sydney's CBD.
The men are among at least 57 people arrested after thousands marched down Broadway to Town Hall, breaching public health orders.
The 33-year-old-man and a 36-year-old are charged with offences that include committing an act of cruelty on an animal.
They are among dozens of protesters who will face court today.
85m Pfizer booster shots ordered
Australia's federal government has signed a deal with Pfizer to acquire 85 million Covid-19 booster shots.
Sixty million will be sent to Australia next year and the remaining 25m are due to arrive in 2023.
Health Minister Greg Hunt previously said no final decision had been made about whether booster shoots would be required, but the government was planning as if they will be necessary.
"At this stage, our best advice is that mRNA and, in particular as well, protein vaccines would be the ideal candidates for a booster," he said.
This announcement is on top of the 40m doses of Pfizer already ordered.
Of that 40m, some have already arrived in Australia, while the remainder are due between now and the end of the year.
The booster doses (the 85 million) would be made available to people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as an additional shot to protect against new strains.
Photo: AFP
11 new cases in Victoria
Victoria has recorded 11 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, which are all linked to the current outbreak.
The state's health department said all of the cases were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period.
More than 32,000 tests were conducted across the state yesterday, and there are 179 active cases.
Victoria's fifth lockdown is currently scheduled to end at midnight on Tuesday, but authorities have raised concerns that Saturday's anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne could jeopardise the lift on restrictions.
Thousands of people defied lockdown yesterday to march through the city in protest against stay-at-home rules.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said he was concerned the event could spread the virus and undo much of the gains that the state had made through the lockdown.
"It was disappointing to see so many people blatantly disregard the chief health officer's directions, putting the health of Victorians at risk," Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said.
"It beggars belief that the protest could - if mass spreading occurs - result in an extension of the very thing they are protesting for: an end to the current lockdown and a reopening of business, which is something we are all working so hard to achieve."
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton was another critic of the protesters.
I love freedom. Who doesn't love freedom? I want freedom from being amongst the over 4 million official (and likely 10 million actual) COVID deaths globally. And freedom from being amongst the over 13 million current active cases. Or millions of current Long COVID cases. 1/
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) July 24, 2021
All-clear in Queensland
Queensland recorded no new local cases while five were detected in hotel quarantine.
One new case tested positive while in New South Wales and will be counted in NSW numbers.
- ABC
