Cases continue in NSW, climb to a high in Victoria

NSW recorded 1257 new cases of coronavirus and seven deaths on Monday after 137,668 tests.

The state has 1189 people in hospital with 222 in intensive care and 94 on a ventilator.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said southwestern Sydney and western Sydney remained the key areas of concern.

“In Greater Sydney area, however, we are seeing a stabilisation in some local government areas of concern and that’s positive,” she said.

As Sydneysiders enjoyed some freedoms on Monday, the Premier warned people to “not let your guard down”.

“It’s way too early for any of us to get complacent and we are concerned that an unexpected event, a super spreader event, can suddenly have a major setback,” she said.

The Premier also said the government was yet to finalise its plans for what happens at the 80 per cent double-dose milestone. But she warned those who don’t get the jab won’t get the same rights.

Her appearance on Monday’s press conference comes after she announced on Friday she would no longer be holding daily Covid press briefings.

“I was always scheduled to do today because of the key milestones we announced,’’ she said.

VICTORIA announced 473 new locally acquired cases on Monday as infections continue to rise despite lockdown.

The state’s health department confirmed the new local cases about 8.30am, including another 271 mystery infections, after 49,037 tests on Sunday.

The health department revealed only 202 of the new cases could be linked to existing outbreaks.

Six of the new cases were in regional Victoria, testing commander Jeroen Weimar said.

He said a staff member at the Melbourne Remand Centre tested positive.

Mr Weimar said 91 per cent of the latest cases were in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne.

CANBERRA recorded 13 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, bringing the national capital’s total outbreak to 506.