# Sydney COVID-19 cases seen topping 2,000 a day as Australia ramps up vaccinations
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-09-06
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Sydney to See Peak Daily Infections Next Week Amid COVID
Meta Description: Stay informed on Sydney's coronavirus outbreak status. Daily cases to peak soon. Learn more on the vaccination rush and easing of lockdown rules.
URL: https://financedigest.com/sydney-covid-19-cases-seen-topping-2000-a-day-as-australia-ramps-up-vaccinationshtml

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By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Sydney, the epicentre of Australia’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, is expected to see daily infections peak next week, authorities said on Monday, as they look to speed up immunisations before easing lockdown rules.

Australia is trying to contain a third wave of infections that has hit its two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and its capital Canberra, forcing more than half the country’s 25 million people into strict stay-at-home restrictions.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the [government’s modelling revealed](https://www.financedigest.com/big-pharma-may-have-to-reveal-government-deals-in-whos-draft-pandemic-rules.html "Big Pharma may have to reveal government deals in WHO’s draft pandemic rules") the state would require its highest number of intensive care beds in early October, with “additional pressure on the system” in the next few weeks.

Daily cases in Sydney’s worst-affected suburbs are [expected to rise](https://www.financedigest.com/instant-view-us-may-payrolls-rise-up-than-expected.html "Instant View: US May payrolls rise up than expected") to as high as 2,000 until the middle of this month, the modelling showed.

If too many of us do the wrong thing, (if) there are too many super-spreading events, we could [see those numbers higher,”](https://www.financedigest.com/daimler-truck-sees-higher-returns-as-supply-chains-demand-improve.html "Daimler Truck sees higher returns as supply chains, demand improve") Berejiklian said during a media briefing in Sydney, the state capital.

A total of 1,071 COVID-19 [cases are currently in New South Wales hospitals](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-coronavirus-cases-hit-new-high-hospitalizations-creep-up.html "U.S. coronavirus cases hit new high, hospitalizations creep up"), with 177 people in intensive care (ICU), 67 of whom require ventilation. Officials have said they had quadrupled ICU beds to about 2,000 in the state early [last year](https://www.financedigest.com/over-50-of-businesses-increased-their-cyber-security-budget-last-year-amid-attacks.html "Over 50% of businesses increased their cyber security budget last year amid attacks") to handle the pandemic.

The state reported 1,281 new cases on Monday, most of them in Sydney, down from 1,485 a day earlier. Five new [deaths were recorded](https://www.financedigest.com/china-records-worlds-first-human-death-from-h3n8-bird-flu-who.html "China records world’s first human death from H3N8 bird flu -WHO"). Victoria state, which includes Melbourne, reported 246 new cases on Monday, its [biggest daily rise of the year](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-nurses-begin-biggest-strike-ballot-in-more-than-100-years.html "UK nurses begin biggest strike ballot in more than 100 years").

Despite the recent outbreaks, Australia’s coronavirus numbers have remained relatively low at around 63,000 [cases and 1,044 deaths helped by hard lockdowns](https://www.financedigest.com/shanghai-finds-cases-after-five-days-of-zero-covid-but-end-of-lockdown-on-track.html "Shanghai finds cases after five days of ‘zero COVID’ but end of lockdown on track") and border restrictions.

But businesses have had to bear the brunt, with Australia on the [brink of a second recession](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-economy-on-brink-of-recession-as-it-shrinks-in-august.html "UK economy on brink of recession as it shrinks in August") in as many years.

Melbourne’s giant observation wheel, part of the city’s skyline for more than 15 years, will close permanently due to COVID-related [“travel restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-to-restrict-travel-rules-for-russians-split-on-how-far-to-go.html "EU to restrict travel rules for Russians, split on how far to go") and sustained shutdowns”, its operator said on Monday.

Australian Industry Group, meanwhile, has warned the country could [face power blackouts in summer if quarantine-weary workers refuse to cross state borders](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-airports-face-christmas-disruption-as-border-staff-to-strike.html "UK airports face Christmas disruption as border staff to strike") for repairs and maintenance.

VACCINE RUSH

Authorities have pledged more freedom of movement, including opening of state borders, once 70% to 80% of the population aged over 16 is vaccinated, although some virus-free states may delay their [reopening plans due to the Delta outbreak in Sydney](https://www.financedigest.com/freedom-day-sydney-reopens-as-australia-looks-to-live-with-covid-19.html "‘Freedom Day’: Sydney reopens as Australia looks to live with COVID-19").

Just over 38% of Australia’s adult population has been fully vaccinated, with the [country expected to reach 70% by early November based on current rates](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-weighs-bigger-rate-hike-with-safety-net-for-indebted-countries.html "ECB weighs bigger rate hike with safety net for indebted countries").

The federal government has doubled the available Pfizer doses for September after last week entering into vaccine swap deals with Britain and Singapore for a total of around 4.5 [million doses, with nearly half a million arriving](https://www.financedigest.com/british-ev-startup-arrival-gets-300-million-funding-aims-to-slow-cash-burn.html "British EV startup Arrival gets 0 million funding, aims to slow cash-burn") overnight.

There will be another [set of flights in a couple of days](https://www.financedigest.com/love-in-a-time-of-inflation-how-much-will-valentines-day-set-you-back.html "Love in a time of inflation: how much will Valentine’s Day set you back?"), but we’ll pretty much be getting a million of the four million every week over the next four weeks,” Lieutenant General John Frewen, head of the vaccination taskforce, told broadcaster ABC.

Frewen said one million doses of Moderna will also reach Australia in “a week or so”, becoming the third [vaccine to join the rollout along with Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters").

(Reporting by Renju Jose; editing by Jane Wardell and Lincoln Feast)


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