Unvaccinated revellers could be banned from pubs, jabs are made MANDATORY for frontline workers and weddings are back ON: Everything you need to know about the NSW Covid crisis as state hits record high 1,035 cases and two deaths
Unvaccinated residents could be banned from pubs while jabs have been made mandatory for frontline workers in Sydney's hotspots following a record 1,035 new Covid cases in NSW announced on Saturday.
Two Sydney residents died from the virus overnight, including one woman in her 70s and another in her 80s, Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed at the state's daily press conference.
The younger woman had received both doses of the Covid vaccine and had underlying health conditions while the other was unvaccinated.
The worrying surge in cases was recorded after 156,165 people came forward to get vaccinated on Friday - the highest daily vaccination rate number the state has seen thus far.
Plans are now reportedly being considered by the NSW government to ban patrons from entering pubs and restaurants unless they've had the jab.
Businesses are expected to reopen once 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated which could be as early as October.
It is an idea set forward as part of a new proposal by the state government, and talks with leading industry group figures are already under way.
There is a possibility all hospitality staff and patrons will need prove they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine before entering bars and restaurants.
It was announced all frontline workers in Sydney's hot spots will need to be vaccinated from next month (pictured in Bankstown)
Saturday was Australia's highest number of daily Covid cases recorded with NSW acquiring another 1,035 infections
In some positive news for residents confined to their homes, the NSW health minister announced that from midnight on Friday weddings would be allowed with five guests.
'Couples who wish to marry will be able to marry, but with minimal guests in attendance, so there will be five guests allowed in addition to those who obviously will be necessary for the actual service, so those officiating and perhaps a photographer to record the event,' he said.
'We will work through that during the course of the week but I want people to know that if you do wish to get married, you certainly can as of Friday of next week.'
Mr Hazzard said guests were not required to be vaccinated.
Since the latest outbreak began frontline workers in Sydney hotspot LGAs had the option of rapid antigen testing as opposed to getting vaccinated to continue working.
'In line with the amended public health order, if an authorised worker is not vaccinated or does not have a medical contraindication form, they will not be able to work outside their LGA,' NSW Health said in a statement late on Friday.
'Rapid antigen testing will no longer be an alternative to vaccination.'
The deadline to get the jab for frontline workers is now September 6, after unions and peak bodies reached an agreement with the government.
Originally the deadline was Monday August 30.
'The rapid antigen testing can still be accommodated through the Covid-safe plans, but the preferred alternative is to have people vaccinated,' Mr Hazzard said.
The worrying surge in cases came after 156,165 people came forward to get vaccinated on Friday - the highest daily vaccination rate number
Weddings will be back on from midnight on Friday with guests of up to five people
Sydneysiders are seen exercising in Bondi Beach on Friday as NSW continues to see record numbers of Covid cases
The eleventh-hour change will now see a number of Sydney hospitals scrambling to book vaccinations for staff living in the 12 identified hotspots.
In further announcements, care workers 16 years and over who live in the hotspot LGAs must have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before being able to work.
This includes those employed in early education and disability support.
Another change will see authorised workers wanting to leave the area - or workers wanting to enter the area of concern - requiring a formal permit from Service NSW to do so.
The permit then needs to be renewed every two weeks.
Mr Hazzard also shut down inaccurate conspiracy theories circulating on social media that the Covid vaccine was linked to infertility.
'I just want to confirm that the most senior health advisory service in Australia has confirmed absolutely, that there is no evidence whatsoever that a woman's fertility or a man's fertility would be in any way affected by having the vaccine,' he said.
He said for young women considering having children, the risk of getting the virus without a vaccination could mean they could potentially suffer further problems trying to get pregnant.
Saturday's case numbers came from a mammoth 129,182 tests carried out within the past 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.
Of the new infections 714 cases are from Sydney's west and southwest while 78 are from the Nepean and Blue Mountains region.
Western NSW has recorded another 42 infections.
NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said there are currently 778 Covid patients in hospital with 125 in intensive care.
Two Sydney residents died from the virus overnight, including one woman in her 70s and another in her 80s, Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed
NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said there are currently 778 Covid patients in hospital with 125 in intensive care (pictured healthcare workers in Sydney's east)
Of those in intensive care just one is fully vaccinated.
The woman aged in her 70s who died was at Nepean Hospital while the woman in her 80s was from western Sydney and died at Westmead Hospital.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STUDENTS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
Students will start returning to school from October 25 with all students back by November 8
Large gathering such as assemblies, band practice and choir will be banned
Year groups will be separated and breaks such as recess and lunch will be staggered between students
Year 12 students studying for their delayed HSC exams will have full-time access to school campuses for study purposes from October 25
High schoolers and teachers must wear masks while primary students are 'strongly recommended' to do the same
Teachers must be vaccinated by November 8
No external visitors will be allowed to attend the school
The woman in her 70s had inquired the infection at the hospital earlier this month and brings the deaths linked to the cluster up to four.
NSW has suffered a total of 83 deaths within the recent Covid outbreak.
Dr McAnulty said authorities remained concerned about case numbers escalating in western Sydney suburbs such as Guildford, Merrylands, Auburn, Granville, Bankstown, and Greystanes.
He said Covid fragments had meanwhile been found in sewage in regional NSW areas where no known cases had been recorded including in Moree, Brewarrina, Baradine, Merimbula, and Bonnie Hills.
'Everyone in this area is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received,' NSW Health said.
On Friday it was announced children would be returning to school from October 25 after having spent months learning from home.
All children are expected to be back at their desks by November 8, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, after having spent months learning at home.
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the return to the classroom will begin with Year 1 and kindergarten students on October 25 and Years 2, 6 and 11 students on November 1.
The remaining year groups will head back to school on November 8.
Vaccinations for all school staff will be mandatory from November 8 while large-scale gatherings such as assemblies, band practice and choir will all be banned.
Year groups will also be kept separate from each other and breaks such as recess and lunch will be staggered between the students.
High schoolers and staff will have to wear masks with Ms Mitchell adding primary students would also be 'strongly recommended' to do the same.
Pictured is a queue outside a Covid vaccination clinic in Bankstown in Sydney's west. Frontline workers must be vaccinated from early September