NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet responds after NSW records Covid-19 case spike

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has said there will be no change to the state’s Covid road map and that “it is time to go out” despite a growing number of recent cases.

NSW reported 403 new Covid-19 cases and one death on Wednesday.

New daily infections spiked from 260 cases on Tuesday and 208 cases on Monday – which was a drop from 286 cases on Sunday.

There are now 151 people in hospital with the virus, with 25 in intensive care.

The double-dose vaccination rate for NSW residents aged over 16 has reached 92.9 per cent, while 94.7 per cent have had at least one shot.

Of people aged 12 to 15, 77.3 have had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and 81.4 per cent have had at least one dose.

There were 92,566 coronavirus tests conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday.

There were 34 cases of the Omicron variant in NSW at the most recent update on Tuesday.

When quizzed on whether NSW had opened too quickly, Mr Perrottet said case numbers were “below what we anticipated” and that restrictions for all residents including the unvaccinated will ease as planned on December 15.

“We’ve always said that when we open up that case numbers will rise,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The best thing we can do is get vaccinated and have a booster shot. That’s the best way to keep yourself and your family safe.

“It is unsustainable and untenable for NSW to remain closed. We’ve always said to the people of our state that when the vaccination rate increases, we will open up, that’s exactly what we’ve done, we’re sticking to the plan.”

Mr Perrottet said his views on the December 15 date was a “proportionate response”.

“Ultimately we need to learn to live alongside this virus and all the variants that come with it.

“The pandemic is not over, we need to make sure we remain safe and the best way to do that is go out, get vaccinated.

Mr Perrottet said “safety is our number one priority” and “we will always adjust our settings”, but claimed the current timing was a “proportionate response”.

“As we move through this, case numbers will increase, that’s just the reality of living in a pandemic, NSW is not immune from having case numbers. What we can do is get vaccinated and keep people safe.”

But, he urged, “it is time to go out and learn to live alongside the virus. I want people to go out and enjoy the best of what Sydney has to offer. I think it’s great people going out and having a party again, enjoying their Christmas parties, so they should, that’s the great aspect of our city.

“The alternative is to close down and keep closed forever, that’s untenable, unworkable and won’t be happening in our state.

“As we start to enjoy life again as we have in the past, people will contract Covid.”

Health officials said on Wednesday morning there were two more “likely” cases linked to a harbour party boat cruise event at the weekend.

NSW Health has issued a public health alert after five cases of Covid-19 were identified from the Friday night party, including the two possible Omicron infections.

Meanwhile, Victoria has recorded 1312 new cases and five Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours.

There are now 303 infected Victorians in hospital, with 51 in intensive care and 27 on a ventilator.

A total of 79,490 tests were received and 3858 vaccines administered at state hubs.

More than 91 per cent of eligible Victorians are now fully vaccinated.

The state now has 11,331 active cases.