Perhaps Australian Liberal Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, along with NSW Nationals Deputy Premier & Minister for Regional New South Wales, John Barilaro, might like to ask those 6,903 Northern NSW residents with a serious disability how they feel about their relegation to second-class citizenship in the middle of a global pandemic?

 

The Guardian, 27 September 2021:

The disability royal commission says governments should not lift lockdowns until all people with disability have had the “opportunity to be fully vaccinated” – even if states and territories hit the 70% fully vaccinated threshold.

In a scathing draft report handed down on Monday morning, the royal commission found the federal department of health’s approach to vaccinating people with disabilities had been “seriously deficient”.

People with disability living in shared accommodation, or “group homes”, were included in phase 1a of the vaccine rollout but then quietly “deprioritised” in favour of aged care residents.

The commission is now concerned people with disabilities will remain unprotected as states such as New South Wales and Victoria look to ease restrictions when 70% of the adult population is fully vaccinated next month.

“In our view, it would be grossly unfair, indeed unconscionable, if any people with disability who have not been given the opportunity to be fully vaccinated by the time the 70% threshold is reached are denied the freedoms available to people who have been fully vaccinated,” the report said.

“The unfairness is magnified once it is accepted – as it must be – that increased freedoms for the fully vaccinated increase the risk of contracting Covid-19 for people who are not fully vaccinated.

“It is one thing for people who choose not to be vaccinated to be denied these freedoms; it is quite another for people who have been denied the opportunity to be fully vaccinated also to be denied those freedoms.”

The report said the federal government should “use its best endeavours” to ensure no state or territory “significantly eases restrictions” when the 70% threshold is met unless all people with disability “have and appreciate that they have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated”.

The commission singled out national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) participants, people living in residential disability accommodation and people with intellectual disability as key groups. It said all active disability support workers should also be fully vaccinated before lockdowns are lifted…..

Among all NDIS participants, not just those in group homes, 39.9% had been fully vaccinated at 15 September……

As at 30 June 2021 in Northern NSW, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) had 6,903 active participants (ranging from children to older adults) with diagnosed disabilities which included; Acquired Brain Injury, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Global Developmental Delay, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as other Neurological, Physical, Sensory & Speech disabilities.

Perhaps Australian Prime Minister & Liberal MP Scott Morrison and NSW Deputy Premier, Nationals MP & Minister for Regional New South Wales, John Barilaro, might like to ask those 6,903 Northern NSW residents how they feel about their relegation to second-class citizenship in the middle of a global pandemic?

Well into the third month of the NSW Delta Variant outbreak and the outlook is not looking hopeful for the state *regular updates*

 

DAY 78: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Wednesday 1 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 23,586 people - inclusive of 107 deaths. There are currently 957 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 160 people in intensive care, 64 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,288 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of the 1,288 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm 1 September 2021:

445 are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD);

387 are from South Western Sydney LHD;

149 are from Sydney LHD, 68 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD;

101 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD;

82 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD:

31 are from Northern Sydney LHD;

23 are from Western NSW LHD;

22 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD;

7 are from Central Coast LHD,

5 are from Far West LHD;

4 are from Hunter New England LHD;

11 are in a correctional centre; and

21 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

From 22 February to 31 August 2021 the total New South Wales percentage of fully vaccinated persons aged 16yrs to over 90 yrs was 37.1 per cent. 

According to the Northern NSW Local Health District, on 1 September 2021:

There are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in residents of Northern NSW Local Health District.

Further investigations into potential venues of concern related to a positive COVID-19 case from outside the District have confirmed that this person was not infectious in the Casino area as originally advised.

Comprehensive contact tracing has established that this person acquired their infection in the days after leaving Northern NSW on Saturday 21 August, upon returning to Sydney. There is no risk to the community from this person’s presence in the region.

DAY 79: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Thursday 2 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 25,002 people - inclusive of 119 deaths. There are currently 979 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 160 people in intensive care, 63 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,431 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 80: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Friday 3 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 26,517 people - inclusive of 123 deaths. There are currently 1,041 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 173 people in intensive care, 62 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,533 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Sydney Children's Hospital Network (SCHN) has confirmed it is providing health services to more than 2,000 children, including 3 children in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

The deaths to date so far during the NSW Delta Variant Outbreak represent 68.71% of all NSW deaths with a COVID-19 diagnosis since the pandemic first entered Australia and the state in January 2020.

Senior members of the NSW Government - in what appears to be a craven spirit of 'victim blaming' - continue at every opportunity to highlight the number of unvaccinated people in the daily death toll. However, they remains firmly silent about the fact that since August 2021 fully vaccinated individuals can also be found in the state's COVID-19 death toll. There were 21 deaths as a result of COVID-19 reported in the week ending 14 August 2021, according to NSW Health COVID-19 weekly surveillance report for Epidemiological Week 32 – 5 of those deaths (or 23.80%) were of people who were fully vaccinated and 2 were of people partially vaccinated. 

Australian Government "Dept. of Health States and Territories Report", 3 September 2021.

Confirmed New Locally Acquired COVID-19 Cases In Last 24 hrs:

NSW (LNP) 1,432

Victoria (Lab) 96

ACT (Lab) 13

Qld (Lab) 0

WA (Lab) 0

NT (Lab) 0

SA (Lib) 0

Tas (Lib) 0. 

NOTE: NSW, Victoria &/or Australian Capital Territory daily infection totals are expected to rise sharply, as Morrison Government departmental daily figures often lag behind published state statistics.

State of the Borders on 4 September 2021:

On 4 September 2021 WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan announced that Western Australia borders will remain closed until 2022, with border public health travel restriction tightening from 6 September 2021. Especially for travel from NSW, Vic, & ACT. 

On 2 September NT Government was still not permitting travellers entry if they came from or passed through a declared Covid-19 hotspot or public exposure site. Such travellers will be turned back at the border and might be fined.

SA Government continues to apply different levels of restriction on travellers from other states and territories.

The ACT Government has tightened its border restrictions – the national capital is currently in lockdown until 17 September 2021. Non-ACT residents entering from locked down areas of Queensland, Victoria or NSW will not be allowed to enter unless they have an exemption, which will only be granted in exceptional circumstances

Victoria is further tightening its border with NSW, with Premier Daniel Andrews indicating it could remain closed until the end of the year. The Vic-NSW border bubble was considerably reduced in size on 2 September 2021.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is holding firm on not opening that state's borders until children under 12 years of age are also vaccinated. 

Tasmania's state border remains firmly regulated and entry into the state requires registration prior to entry. Travellers who have spent time in a high-risk area within Australia in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania are not permitted to enter Tasmania, unless approved as an Essential Traveller.

New South Wales remains in a state-wide lockdown until at least 10 September 2021.

For further historical information see: 

NSW Health media releases at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/2021-nsw-health.aspx

COVID-19 State of Play in New South Wales from 25 -31 July 2021

Covid-19State Of Play in New South Wales, from 1 August to 31 August 2021 - Running Sheet

For political context:

Death is horrible, but so is not knowing what to do with your free time. #GladysSuperSpreader #COVID19nsw pic.twitter.com/DT3LjYOXtp

— Gigi Lou (@rizzizzy) September 2, 2021

People might die, but Morrison says under the next phase at least you'll be able to attend the funeral.

And how good are picnics!!#auspol #covid19nsw #covid19vic pic.twitter.com/fQOhHNDGlc

— Squizz (@SquizzSTK) September 3, 2021

 

DAY 81: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Saturday 4 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 27,984 people - inclusive of 126 deaths. There are currently 1,030 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 175 people in intensive care, 72 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,485 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 82: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Sunday 5 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 29,253 people - inclusive of 131 deaths. There are currently 1,071 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 171 people in intensive care, 67 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,281 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 83: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Monday 6 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 30,456 people - inclusive of 139 deaths. There are currently 1,151 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 192 people in intensive care, 75 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,220 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 84: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Tuesday 7 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 31,914 people - inclusive of 148 deaths. There are currently 1,136 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 194 people in intensive care, 78 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,480 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

The status of the entire NSW public health system has been listed Red for the last 4 weeks.

https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/critical-intelligence-unit/dashboard

DAY 85: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Wednesday 8 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 33,296 people - inclusive of 153 deaths. There are currently 1,175 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 202 people in intensive care, 80 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,405 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 86: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Thursday 9 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 34,804 people - inclusive of 162 deaths. There are currently 1,156 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 205 people in intensive care, 78 of whom require ventilation. 

​NSW recorded 1,542 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

DAY 87: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Friday 10 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 36,374 people - inclusive of 170 deaths. There are currently 1,164 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 221 people in intensive care, 74 of whom require ventilation.

NSW recorded 1,599 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 up to 8pm.

The deaths up to Day 87 of the NSW Delta Variant Outbreak represent 75.22% of all NSW deaths with a COVID-19 diagnosis since the pandemic first entered Australia and the state in January 2020.

From January 2020 to 10 September 2021 the cumulative total of COVID-19 infections from all sources had reached 42,000 cases.

According to NSW Health a cumulative total of 1,037,036 NSW residents had been fully vaccinated by 8pm on 10 September 2021 out of an est. state population (ABS Dec 2020) of 8,172,500 men, women and children. 

On Friday 10 September 2021 NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced 11 am daily government COVID-19 press conferences will cease. Instead a daily NSW Health video outlining the overnight statistics will be supplied to the media.

In 2020 the Premier only ceased daily press conferences when NSW was recording a very low number of new COVID-19 infections per day.

It appears that Berejiklian does not have the personal moral stamina to daily face this state's residents, as they live through the illness and death over the next 4 to 6 chaotic months until the promised statistical infection curve flattens.

DAY 88: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Saturday 11 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 37,621 people - inclusive of 177 deaths. There are currently 1,206 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 220 people in intensive care, 92 of whom require ventilation.

NSW recorded 1,262 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 up to 8pm.

From 1 August 2021, 17 people with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis have died in their homes under the Berejiklian Government's "care in the community" scheme.

According to NSW Health a cumulative total of 1,050,599 NSW residents had been fully vaccinated by 8pm on 11 September 2021 out of an est. state population (ABS Dec 2020) of 8,172,500 men, women and children. 

DAY 89: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Sunday 12 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 38,856 people - inclusive of 184 deaths. There are currently 1,189 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 222 people in intensive care, 94 of whom require ventilation.

NSW recorded 1,257 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 up to 8pm.

DAY 90: NSW Health data showed that, as of 8pm Monday 13 September 2021, the number of locally acquired COVID-19 infections since the 16 June beginning of the Delta Variant Outbreak in NSW now totals 39,954 people - inclusive of 186 deaths. There are currently 1,253 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 231 people in intensive care, 104 of whom require ventilation.

NSW recorded 1,127 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 up to 8pm.