NSW has recorded 1007 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths. Three of the deaths occurred in people who only returned a positive diagnosis after they died at home.
There is alarm that combination of illegal mass beach gatherings and relatively low vaccination rates could seed fresh clusters at Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the original epicentre of the state’s Delta outbreak.
Victoria has recorded 847 new cases of COVID-19 and one death, a new peak case number for the state.
Hundreds of police were able to head off an anti-lockdown protest at the St Kilda foreshore today and prevent scenes of chaos and violence erupting as was seen across Victoria earlier in the week.
However police said they were still disappointed to see a number of people breaching the Chief Health Officer’s orders, with 94 arrests made on Saturday.
Masks and limits on household gatherings may remain in place to help reduce COVID-19 peaks after Victoria exits lockdowns.
Sydneysiders could be barred from visiting regional NSW until the state hits 80 per cent full vaccination under a plan being considered by the state government.

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7.38pm on Sep 25, 2021

Restrictions could remain once vaccine rate hits 80 per cent, Victorians warned

Masks and limits on household gatherings may remain in place to help reduce COVID-19 peaks after Victoria exits lockdowns, Annika Smethurst reports.

The Victorian government has warned its road map isn’t a “set and forget” plan, amid a surge in case numbers in countries with high-vaccination rates.

A week after promising most restrictions would be lifted once 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated, Health Minister Martin Foley said it would be “a challenge in Victoria” to keep case numbers down after the vaccination target was met, citing Singapore and South Korea as “comparable countries” facing similar challenges.

Health Minister Martin Foley speaks earlier this week.Eddie Jim

In Singapore, where about 80 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, limits on gatherings will be reintroduced and residents will return to working from home from Monday to try to slow the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases.

Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said Victoria would need to keep driving case numbers down before lockdown measures are eased to avoid ongoing restrictions over summer.

Professor Bennett said it was likely masks would still need to be worn indoors after the 80 per cent double-dose vaccination target was met and the government could also be forced to reintroduce restrictions such as limits on home gatherings.

Read the full story here.

6.27pm on Sep 25, 2021

Victorian police arrest dozens of protesters across the CBD and St Kilda

By Benjamin Preiss

Police arrested 94 people in the Melbourne CBD and St Kilda on Saturday for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s (CHO) orders and for outstanding warrants, drug offences and other matters.

In a statement, Victoria Police said all those arrested would be issued with penalty notices for breaching the orders.

“Police are disappointed to see the number of people who are continuing to breach the CHO directions and will continue to arrest and fine them if they are found to be in breach of the CHO directions,” the statement said.

Protesters swept through St Kilda on Saturday. Justin McManus

6.21pm on Sep 25, 2021

In pictures: Sydney hits 13 weeks in lockdown

By Carrie Fellner

As Sydney hit 13 weeks in lockdown on Saturday, Herald photographer Rhett Wyman captured daily life around the city.

A child scootering at Maroubra skate park on Saturday. Rhett Wyman

Sydneysiders enjoying the spring weather on Saturday. Rhett Wyman

Locked down Sydneysiders have lost none of their enthusiasm for picnics. Rhett Wyman

People took advantage of eased restrictions to enjoy picnics in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney on Saturday.Rhett Wyman

Surfers stand along the beach as they assess the surf.Rhett Wyman

6.03pm on Sep 25, 2021

Fears Bondi gatherings could turn super-spreading events amid low vaccine uptake

By Carrie Fellner

There is alarm over the potential for mass beach gatherings across Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Friday night to spawn fresh clusters of COVID-19 due to lagging vaccination uptake in the area.

Mayor of Waverley Paula Masselos said the illegal gatherings of large groups were “extremely frustrating” for authorities.

“The majority of people are doing the right thing,” she said. “A small group of people is imperilling themselves and everyone else”.

Police moved along a large number of people who gathered at North Bondi on Friday night.Media Mode

Cr Masselos called council rangers to step up their patrols on Saturday afternoon after visiting Bondi beach and witnessing groups beginning to gather, although they were keeping their distance.

“I’ve called the rangers to go down and keep an eye on it,” she said. “They are there already.”

She said the main problems were surfacing after 7pm when council rangers clocked off for the day.

“It’s difficult to control, it really is,” she said, adding that she was particularly concerned given the area’s vaccine uptake was starting to fall behind the rest of the city’s.

Cr Masselos said the situation underlined the need for a new vaccination hub in the eastern suburbs.

“We have 110 active cases and the number is increasing,” Cr Masselos said.

“Irresponsible behaviour like this is only adding to the potential risk of our number going up.

“We were initially one of top LGAs to get first dose vaccination and we are now the third lowest.”

NSW Police enjoyed a quieter day on Saturday after they were called in to break up huge crowds at Bondi and Manly on Friday night, vastly beyond the five-person limit on gatherings.

At Manly, a number of move-on directions were issued as well as at least three fines to people in breach of the public health orders. While in Bondi, police were also forced to move people on after crowd numbers continued increasing throughout the night.

The revellers left beer bottles, cans and other garbage strewn across the esplanade in their wake.

Cr Masselos said police had been fining people who were coming to the beaches from outside of the area and breaching the five-kilometre travel restrictions.

“Police are checking people’s number plates,” she said.

“In one instance they found a driver licence buried in the sand from a person that was from out of the area.”

5.38pm on Sep 25, 2021

New exposure sites alert for regional Victoria

By Benjamin Preiss

A clothing store and pharmacy are among newly-listed tier one exposure sites in the border city of Wodonga.

Ally Fashion and Chemist Warehouse, both in Wodonga Plaza, were named as exposure sites on the Health Department’s website on Saturday afternoon.

The exposure time was 2pm to 5pm on Thursday September 23.

A Kmart store and Woolworths supermarket, also in Wodonga, were added as tier two exposure sites. There are now more than a dozen exposure sites in total listed in Wodonga.

5.13pm on Sep 25, 2021

Outoor pools set to reopen across Sydney’s areas of concern

By Carrie Fellner

Get excited NSW, from Monday you will be spoilt for choice for activities. Between walking around the block and a fully-vaxxed picnic you can take a trip to the local pool, even in the local government areas of concern!

The move comes just in time to save the sanity of parents who are about to endure a second week of school holidays in lockdown.

Granville Swimming Centre will reopen on Monday. Dominic Lorrimer

It’s worth checking with your local pool as to what rules apply before you arrive. For pools across the City of Sydney no bookings will be required initially, however, capacity limits will apply and a booking system may be introduced if necessary.

The City of Sydney council is also restricting groups of swimmers to five fully vaccinated people or two unvaccinated people.

4.37pm on Sep 25, 2021

Alert issued over new venues of concern in regional NSW

By Carrie Fellner

NSW Health has issued an alert for two new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cowra in the state’s Central West.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the time listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there, regardless of the result. NSW Health sends a text message to people who have checked in at close-contact venues with further information.

Cowra Dance Factory, 19 Cowra Road: Wednesday 15 September, 3.30pm to 7.00pm
Cowra Ballet School, 45 Redfern Street: Friday 17 September, 4.30pm to 6.15pm

In addition, NSW Health has been notified of new casual contact venues of concern across NSW that are associated with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

To view these new venues, please visit the NSW Government website.

Anyone who visited one of these venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

4.11pm on Sep 25, 2021

Footy finals are underway

By Carrie Fellner

The Panthers have drawn first blood in the footy finals - get on our live blog to follow the action. Head over here for the AFL blog and you can jump on our NRL blog here.

3.51pm on Sep 25, 2021