NSW Health data shows increasing COVID-positive cases in the inner city from Elizabeth Bay to Glebe, Redfern, Waterloo and Camperdown.

We need to lift inner city vaccination rates, particularly for people at higher risk of severe illness to prevent the situation here turning into an outbreak. I urge everyone who can, to get vaccinated and that we all continue to follow the health orders by staying at home, keeping our distance from others, wearing masks and practicing good hygiene.

With Lord Mayor Clover Moore, we’ve worked with the Sydney Local Health District to get outreach vaccination clinics for inner city social housing and Indigenous communities. We’ve had outreach clinics in Woolloomooloo, Surry Hills, Glebe and Redfern and I’m pleased these will now be extended and expanded. Check for updated detail from the links on my website > HERE.  

Vaccination status is going to play a major part in determining what activities we can participate in while the pandemic continues. The Premier released a range of freedoms that will be available to fully vaccinated people when the state reaches 70 percent of over 16s vaccinated and jurisdictions across the world are looking at different restrictions for vaccinated versus unvaccinated people. HERE. More changes will come when we get to 80 per cent.  Read about ‘vaccine passports’ here > HERE.

When these changes come in, people who are not vaccinated will only have access to ‘critical retail’ like supermarkets, banks, petrol stations, post offices and grocers > HERE.

COVID check-in using the Service NSW app on smartphones will become more important. For those without a smartphone, you can now get a COVID check-in card > HERE. 

New powers have come into play to ensure NSW Health can act when there is an outbreak in an apartment. Owners of buildings have been reminded to ensure the accurate contact details of all people in a unit have been provided to the strata manager to ensure the strata roll is up to date in case of COVID-positive cases in the building. I’ve asked ministers to provide clear advice for buildings including how common areas will be treated under new rules for outdoor gatherings.