NSW COVID: ‘National emergency’ declared as state records 53 cases in the wild

Premier Gladys Berejiklian called for a national “refocusing” of Australia’s vaccine rollout ahead of Thursday’s national cabinet meeting.

Ms Berejiklian said the declaration was meant to help drive national efforts to boost the vaccination rollout.

“We need to have a discussion about refocusing the national vaccination strategy,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Dr Chant told Sydneysiders she would not recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine for the people she loved if she though it was harmful, pointing to her husband and mother-in-law who have both received it.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will update on the vaccine rollout shortly; the AMA says the AstraZeneca vaccine is the only way out of lockdown for Sydney; NZ will close to Australians from midnight for two months.