Morrison – Mesrena Elyoum
Australia is officially in its third wave of Covid-19 but one-in-four eligible people are now fully vaccinated against the virus.
Chief medical officer Paul Kelly confirmed Australia was “clearly” in its third wave.
“The first wave you would remember right back in the beginning of the pandemic was mostly related to people coming from overseas and some local cases,” he told reporters on Friday.
Almost exactly at this time last year we were faced with a terrible situation in Victoria and that wave, which was mostly locally acquired cases in Melbourne.
“Now we’re in this wave which is not entirely, but mostly, in New South Wales.
“In fact, we have active outbreaks at the moment in four of our eight jurisdictions.”
But Scott Morrison said one-in-four eligible Australians were now fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
“It was 11.6 per cent just one month ago,” he said.
“That just demonstrates how quickly this vaccination program is gathering pace all around the country.”
Mr Morrison said there were one million doses administered in just four days.
“Delta is a very determined strain of this virus,” he said.
“So we must continue to suppress it and we must continue to vaccinate.”
NSW recorded a further two deaths and 390 new local cases overnight.
When asked about the situation — including people flouting the restrictions and what was discussed at national cabinet — the Prime Minister urged people to comply with the lockdown orders, but stopped short of backing a “ring of steel”.
“We’ve got to do the right thing by each other. We’ve got to do the right thing by our neighbours, our communities, our city, our country,” he said.
“You can do that by following the rules, staying at home, getting vaccinated and getting tested.
“That is what is being asked of Australians and that is how you get through. There isn’t an alternative way.
“There is not some alternative world where you don’t have to have these restrictions and somehow the virus doesn’t kill large numbers of people. That world doesn’t exist.”
Mr Morrison also threw his support behind Western Australia’s unprecedented plan to force NSW travellers to be vaccinated before arriving to the state.
From August 17, NSW travellers approved to enter WA under its hard border arrangements must provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure and a receipt showing at least one dose of a vaccine where eligible.
They must also use the G2G Now app in addition to 14 days of self-quarantine and virus tests on days two and 12.
Scott Morrison backed the decision, saying it was consistent with what the national plan was seeking to achieve.
I do welcome the requirements for vaccination. This is for people who are otherwise getting an exemption to come into WA and the Premier has added to that,” he said.
“That’s not unlike the sorts of things we’ve been talking about for some time that where people are vaccinated and an exemption has been granted, well the vaccination aids that exemption being given on public health grounds.
“So, I think that’s very consistent with what the national plan is seeking to achieve, and as I said last week, all premiers and chief ministers strongly committed and agreed to the national plan.”
WA Premier Mark McGowan said the move was tough but fair.
“This hasn’t been done before in Australia. We haven’t actually ever said you have to be vaccinated to travel between the states,” he said.
“We’ve done it for overseas countries but I think it’s entirely fair.”
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