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NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 10 people with COVID-19; six men and four women.
One person was aged in their 30s, two people were aged in their 60s, three people were aged in their 80s, and four people were aged in their 90s.
Of the seven people who died over the age of 65, four people had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and three people had received two doses.
The person in their 30s who died had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and was not known to have any underlying health conditions.
One person under 65 years of age who died had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had significant underlying health conditions.
One person under 65 years of age who died was unvaccinated and had significant underlying health conditions.
Four people were from Sydney’s south west, two people were from Sydney’s Inner West, one person was from the Northern Rivers, one person was from Western Sydney, one person was from the Central West, and one person was from the Macarthur region.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,523.
There were 17,597 positive test results notified in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday, including 10,090 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 7,507 positive PCR tests.
The 7,507 positive PCR results were returned from a total of 44,333 PCR tests.
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COVID-19 boosters are a step closer for 12 to 15-year-olds.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has granted provisional go-ahead for a Pfizer booster for the age group although final approval by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is still pending.
The medical regulator recommended on Friday that 12 to 15-year-olds receive a third shot six months after their first two regardless of which approved vaccine they'd received as their primary course.
A spokesman for the TGA said its review of overseas vaccine data in deciding whether to push ahead with the booster was rigorous.
"Regulatory approval of the booster dose for this age group has also been granted in Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States," he said.
"The TGA continues to work very closely with international regulators to align regulatory approaches, share information and, where it speeds up evaluation, collaboratively review COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
"Australians can be confident that the TGA's review process for this vaccine was rigorous and of the highest standard."
Previously, only those 16 and over have been able to get their booster.
As a precaution, the TGA says it will actively monitor the safety of the vaccine in all age groups both in Australia and overseas and take action if concerns are identified.
The final approval decision from ATAGI is expected within days.
As of Friday, almost 70 per cent of the eligible population 16 and over had received their booster shot.
On Monday, the rollout began for a fourth dose, or second booster, for the elderly and vulnerable ahead of winter.
Experts warn the coming months could see a spike in infections, coupled with the first major flu season in the country since the start of the pandemic.
The winter booster will be rolled out to those 65 and older, Indigenous Australians over 50, those in aged and disability care facilities, and the immunocompromised.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA:
NSW: 17,597 cases, 10 deaths, 1437 in hospital, 47 in ICU
Victoria: 9610 cases, seven deaths, 366 in hospital, 15 in ICU
Images: 2st & Peter Andrea
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Australians should know when they are heading to the ballot box by the end of the weekend.
There are only two Saturdays left for an election to be held, May 14 or May 21.
But if the prime minister does not visit the governor-general by this Sunday it will rule out the earlier date, as a minimum of 33 days are required between calling an election and polling day.
It will also mean MPs will have to return to Canberra for the week as the House of Representatives is due to sit.
A program for the scheduled sitting was released on Friday afternoon but it is not expected to go ahead.
Mr Morrison says his visit to Governor-General David Hurley is not far away.
"Electoral terms are for three years. The last election was on May 18 (2019) and the next election will be held about the same time," he told reporters on Friday.
"You'll know very soon."
A potential hurdle delaying Mr Morrison from calling the election was cleared on Friday afternoon when the High Court threw out a challenge to his pick of candidates for several NSW seats.
Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said there were "insufficient prospects of success" to warrant leave for former Liberal member Matthew Camenzuli to challenge Mr Morrison's intervention in the state's local branches.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese accused the prime minister of delaying the election so the government could continue using taxpayer funds to pay for advertising.
"Call the election, let the Australian people decide," he said on Friday.
"I feel like putting in a phone call to the prime minister if he doesn't know where the governor-general lives, and offer him a lift."
The prime minister is expected to call the election on Sunday.
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Hundreds of NSW residents remain under evacuation orders on the first day of school holidays, with forecasts warning it will take time for water to drain from saturated catchments.
Heavy falls eased across much of NSW on Friday, however flooding is likely to continue in parts of Greater Sydney throughout the weekend.
River rises were still being observed in the Hawkesbury-Nepean on Friday and 13 evacuation orders remained in place across 11 low-lying suburbs.
On the first day of the Easter school holiday, some 1200 people remain under evacuation order, and a further 1500 had been given warnings they may still need to leave.
"We're urging people in those communities to remain vigilant," said NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey..
"Hopefully we'll be able to lift those evacuation orders and evacuation warnings as soon as it's safe to do so."
Recent severe weather events had taken a toll on communities and SES rescuers, he said.
"It has been a very tough few months for communities across NSW including in Western Sydney with multiple, major weather events," he said.
"It is heartbreaking. It's been a very tough storm season, one of the toughest in recent memory for the SES."
The SES has received more than 2300 calls for help and conducted about 700 rescues since the rain event began Monday.
More than 1200 SES volunteers were on the ground on Friday.
In southwest Sydney the body of a 68-year-old man was found in a submerged van before 8am on Friday.
His body was retrieved about 1pm following an operation by police divers and the SES, but he is yet to be formally identified.
The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley is being monitored with moderate flooding at North Richmond, Windsor, Menangle, Camden and Wallacia, and peaks expected on Friday night and Saturday morning.
In Penrith the Nepean River peaked at moderate flood levels on Friday and was falling, and in Sackville the peak is expected on Saturday, while water continues to spill at Warragamba Dam.
A flood warning has also been issued for the Orara River on the Mid North Coast, with minor flooding possible at Coutts Crossing.
"Despite the substantial flooding that we've seen across our state, what is incredibly pleasing has been that we've only lost a very few amount of lives, and that has occurred because of the efforts that everyone has made across our state in following the instructions of the SES," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Friday.
Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said the people of NSW were fatigued from extreme weather, but needed to keep following the advice of emergency services.
"It will stop raining, it will get better," Ms Cooke said.
"We just need to keep getting through this one day at a time."
Images: Peter Andrea & NSW SES
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