Record cases for NSW as Victoria ends its lockdown

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had their daily press conference this morning and provided  COVID-19 updates.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed 172 new Covid cases were recorded overnight as the state grapples with the current escalating outbreak.

Today's  new cases are of clear concern, but perhaps even more alarming is the fact 60 of those cases were infectious in the community.  171 patients were now in hospital in NSW, with 46 in ICU and 19 on ventilators.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she looks forward to making an announcement later this week about how the Greater Sydney lockdown will look in the weeks ahead.

The Premier said the current restrictions had stopped case numbers from escalating  “literally to be in their thousands”  but case numbers were still too high.

Meanwhile, Victoria will ends its fifth lockdown at midnight on Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed. However Premier Daniel Andrews warned strict regulation would stay in place. While the stay-at-home orders are to be lifted from midnight, restrictions on visitors to your home remain in place.

However Premier Andrews has warned that the easing of restrictions is a “good day” but is not cause for triumph among Victorians.

Number of other rulese still in place and Public gatherings will be limited to 10 people from midnight on 27 July. But masks will remain mandatory both indoors and outside, with the requirement to wear them inside expected to continue for a long time. There will be no crowds at football matches, theatre or other events.

Weddings and funerals will have limits of 50 people each and the hard border with NSW will stay in place.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Andrews thanked Victorians for doing the right thing.

“I am deeply grateful to every single Victorian who has done the right thing,” he said.

“It is also because of the hard work of every Victorian, following the rules, getting tested even with the mildest of symptoms, playing your part to keep your family safe and every family safe, and for us to get through this,” he said.

“In terms of where we are today we are able to make decisions and confirm those decisions this morning. Cabinet has been briefed on advice from the Chief Health Officer from 11:59pm tonight, the five reasons to leave home are gone.”

He thanked the 40,000 people who had quarantined as primary and secondary contacts.

Victoria recorded 10 new local cases on Tuesday but all have been linked to the current outbreak and all were in quarantine for the entire time they were infectious.

Across Sunday and Monday, Victoria recorded 22 new local cases but all were again linked and isolating while infectious.