NSW records 1,480 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths

NSW recorded 1,480 new infections, health officials warned that they are “concerned” about escalating COVID-19 case numbers in some of Sydney’s most densely populated inner city suburbs.

Deaths of  COVID-19 in NSW have now exceeded 200 since the outbreak began, with nine more deaths in the reporting period.

There have been a total of 204 COVID-19 fatalities in the state, with 148 of those deaths occurring since the Delta outbreak began in June

“We encourage residents of those areas to come forward for vaccination as soon as you can,” NSW deputy chief health officer Marianne Gale said.

“So please, if you live in those suburbs, come forward to get vaccinated,” Dr Gale said.

Dr Gale said a man aged in his 20s from Western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital.

Small weddings to be allowed, Health Minister of NSW says

Health Minister of NSW Brad Hazzard announced that wedding restrictions will be lifted next week.

In the state, more than 6.5 million vaccinations have been provided. A woman in her 70s died at Nepean Hospital earlier this month after contracting an infection there.

She is the fourth person to die as a result of the outbreak at the hospital. She was fully vaccinated, but had “some major underlying health issues,” according to NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty.

At Westmead Hospital, a woman in her eighties died as well.

From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 3, Mr. Hazzard said the government would relax restrictions on weddings across the state.

Weddings would be limited to five guests, he said, but the specifics were still being worked out.

He said the couple, “those officiating and perhaps a photographer” wouldn’t count as guests and that it would not be compulsory for those attending to be vaccinated against the virus.

“I would say to anybody who is getting married it would be a really good idea if you asked your guests to make sure that they are double vaccinated but it is not going to be a requirement in the health orders at this stage,” Mr. Hazzard said.