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The NSW road toll fell in 2021 to the lowest number in nearly a century.
Some 270 people lost their lives on the state's roads last year, 14 fewer than the previous year.
It's the smallest road toll since 1923.
The number means the NSW government has met its 2012 goal of reducing road deaths by 30 per cent.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole says the reduction of the road toll over the past decade means hundreds of lives have been saved.
"An additional 725 people would have died on NSW roads in the past 10 years had the state's road toll remained at the same level as it was between 2008 and 2010 - that's 725 people who would be missing around the family dinner table," he said in a statement.
A months-long COVID-19 lockdown across the state made 2021 an unusual year.
But Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward says NSW was on track to achieve record low fatalities even before the lockdown.
"During the first six months of 2021, there was a record low 139 people killed on NSW roads, 25 less than the average number of people between 2018 and 2020," Ms Ward said.
Ms Ward said the statistics showed that the government's $822 million Safer Roads program was working.
The program involves reducing speed limits in cities, upgrading safety features at intersections, and slowing down traffic with pedestrian refuges and crossings.
Mr Toole said even one life lost on the roads was too many, pledging to work to take the toll down to zero.
He urged drivers and motorcycle riders to stick to the speed limit, wear helmets and seatbelts, put phones away and never drive if affected by drugs or alcohol.
Image: NSW Police & Peter Andrea
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A second consecutive exceptionally busy day for Surf Life Saving NSW volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards has resulted in one fatality, a successful resuscitation and several high category serious incidents registered across the state.
Following on from New Year’s Day which saw hot weather, challenging surf and large crowds converge on the coastline, those large crowds again flocked to the beach to make the most of the sunshine, resulting in 56 high category incidents, 264 rescues and 4393 preventative actions.
At Windang, a 21-year-old rock fisherman was swept from the rocks and confirmed drowned after multiple surf lifesaving assets and a helicopter was dispatched to assist.
It is the second consecutive day that a rock fisherman has lost their life, following a tragic rock fishing death at Warriewood yesterday.
At Sawtell, two young males were rescued, with one of them pulled from the water unresponsive and not breathing.
Lifesavers administered CPR successfully and the man begun to breathe again.
He was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
In Sydney’s south, a 50-year-old female presented to the Burning Palms patrol struggling to breath and had to be winched by helicopter to a nearby carpark.
Further north at Angourie, Yamba SLSC patrol responded to a distress call from two people who had been swept out to sea.
Both were able to return to shore, however one required medical assistance from responding lifesavers.
At Tweed Bar, an overturned jetski required surf life saving assistance and at Quarantine Beach in Sydney Harbour, Manly and North Steyne Inflatable Rescue Boats assisted kayakers in distress.
At South Maroubra, lifeguards on an IRB located an overturned vessel and pulled two persons from the water.
At Moonee Beach, two people were held up by surfers after their small boat rolled while a third man who entered the water to assist was reported as in distress.
Lifeguards responded and all involved were returned safely to the beach.
Surf Life Saving President, George Shales said “This has been the busiest operational period in five years.”
He said, “Public safety is paramount for us over the summer and it’s important that we reiterate that the key to being safe on our beaches is visiting patrolled locations and swimming between the red and yellow flags.
“I believe it is also worth emphasising that if you have plans to go rock fishing, please wear the appropriate safety gear, including a life vest." he said.
Mr Shales said, “Again, we need to acknowledge he efforts of our highly skilled and well-resourced lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers, as I am certain that they have saved dozens of lives this weekend.”
BEACH SAFETY TIPS
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
- In an emergency, dial Triple Zero
For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.
Images: Pixabay & Surf Life Saving NSW & Google Maps
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The NSW health system is facing staff shortages, the peak medical association has warned as COVID-19 hospitalisations passed 1000.
As of Sunday, 1066 people were in hospital with the coronavirus including 83 in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation.
Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy said the system was "struggling" with staff shortages as case numbers rise and health workers fall sick, test positive or are identified as close contacts.
"People look at the numbers and see the 1066 in hospitals but the health system doesn't just look after COVID and people are having critical surgery delayed," he told AAP.
At the peak of the Delta outbreak on September 21, there were 1266 people hospitalised with infections, and 244 in intensive care.
A NSW Health spokesperson said as of December 30, 2510 healthcare workers were in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19.
Exemptions may be given in exceptional circumstances for healthcare employees who are deemed critical and who cannot work from home but only if they are asymptomatic, the spokesperson said.
Dr Moy said NSW Health's policy change showed the "desperation" to fill up rosters.
NSW recorded two more deaths and 18,278 new infections on Sunday.
Testing numbers to 8pm on New Year's Day were down to 90,019, a drop from 119,278 on New Year's Eve.
Sunday's daily case number is also lower than Saturday's 22,577 infections when four deaths were recorded.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant stressed that the daily case numbers reflect testing conducted over previous days as there are delays.
She urged anyone with symptoms or who had come into contact with someone positive for the virus to get a PCR test as soon as possible.
"You're most infectious before you've got symptoms," Dr Chant said on Sunday.
"If you are a household contact you are required to self-isolate but we are also urging you to get a PCR test and then a (rapid antigen test) on day six and if both of those are negative you can go about your business.
"But we do ask that you don't visit high-risk settings -- health care, aged care, disability or correctional facilities for the next six days."
Some 93.6 per cent of adult NSW residents have now had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while the 12-to-15-year-old age bracket has moved to 78.2 per cent having received two doses.
Almost 14,000 of the cases reported on Sunday were in Sydney while 1342 were in the Hunter New England local health district, 780 in the Nepean Blue Mountains and 414 in the Central Coast districts.
There were hundreds of cases in the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Northern NSW health districts as well as on the Mid North Coast.
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NSW has recorded 18,278 COVID cases and two deaths as the state's COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread.
There are 1,066 people hospitalised with Coronavirus and there are 83 patients in intensive care.
Testing numbers to 8pm on the first day of 2022 were down to 90,019, a drop from 119,278 on New Year's Eve.
The daily case number is also lower than Saturday's 22,577 infections when four deaths were recorded.
3,740 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District.
1,342 are from Hunter New England.
- 398 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven.
- 159 cases from Wollongong.
- 63 from Shellharbour.
- 111 from the Shoalhaven.
- 65 from the Kiama local government Area.
123 are Covid infections have been reported today from Southern NSW.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant warned earlier in the week there were probably more cases than health authorities knew about as testing systems remain back-logged by a huge demand for tests in the lead-up to Christmas.
Some 93.6 per cent of adult NSW residents have now had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The 12 to15-year-old age bracket has moved to 78.2 per cent having received two doses.
Image: NSW Health
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