COVID-19 update – 21 April 2021

21 April 2021

Weekly update: COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

282 general practices are vaccinating as part of Phase 1b in the region as well as five GP respiratory clinics and the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern. There are plenty of vaccine appointments available at the GP respiratory clinics. 

As of 18 April, 1,586,252 vaccine doses have been administered in Australia. 177,773 vaccines have been administered by NSW Health. This presentation from 20 April provides a good overview of the vaccine roll-out and shows international comparisons at equivalent stages of roll-out. 

National Cabinet met on Monday, 19 April to discuss the recalibration of the national COVID-19 strategy. A series of changes have been initially agreed upon including bringing the roll-out forward to allow Australians over the age of 50 to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. These changes will be put forward for formal approval next week. Currently, Australians aged between 50-69 are in Phase 2a of the roll-out which has not commenced. 

Click here for daily updates on the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. 

Vaccine supply 

The Federal Government will receive 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Australia has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the bulk of which are arriving in the last quarter of this year. The Prime Minister has said that mass vaccination hubs will supplement the work of GPs in the final months of 2021.

NSW COVID-19 update

As of Tuesday 20 April, testing numbers for the 24 hours prior were 5,785 compared to the previous day’s total of 7,666. NSW Health has expressed concern at the drop in testing rates recently and has urged NSW residents to get tested for COVID-19 even if they have very mild symptoms. High testing rates are one of our best defences against COVID-19.

There was COVID-19 transmission between two families in adjoining rooms during hotel quarantine at the Adina Apartment Hotel in Town Hall and investigations into this are underway. No further cases have been identified.

There are areas of increased testing in the following LGAs: Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed. There are currently no locations associated with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Visit the NSW Health website for regular updates. 

COVID-19 near me

If you want to check locations visited by COVID-19 cases near you the following website offers a helpful interactive map: https://covid19nearme.com.au/state/nsw