James Kondilios was double vaccinated and just 23. Photo / Facebook
James Kondilios was double vaccinated and just 23. Photo / Facebook
The Greek-Australian community is in shock after the death of a 23-year-old fully vaxxed man who has passed away in Sydney with Covid-19.
James Kondilios was a science graduate and champion power lifter who was double-vaccinated with no underlying medical conditions. He died at St Vincent's Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment.
Kondilios grew up in Sydney, where he attended Waverley College, and in 2019 won a Science and Innovation award for his work on forestry and climate change.
In 2015, he represented Australia at the Power Lifting World Championships in Finland, where he won a bronze medal.
James Kondilios has died with Covid at just 23. Photo / Facebook
His friends said his death was a reminder to all that Covid can strike even the young and healthy.
"He had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and had no known underlying health conditions," NSW Health said in a statement. "NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones."
The Daily Mail reported a tribute from Kondilios' friend Julia Adamcewicz, who warned that is death proved that "even the strongest and wisest can be taken from this world before their time".
"Yesterday was a reminder that this battle with Covid we have all been a part of for the last few years is not something to be taken lightly as even the healthiest people can be taken far too young," she said, remembering Kondilios as a supportive friend who "would do anything for the people close to him".
Friend Julia Adamcewicz, pictured here with Kondilios, said his death should serve as a warning. Photo / Facebook
The New South Wales government today announced new Covid-19 restrictions would be imposed in a bid to bring control the state's Omicron outbreak.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet met with the government's Covid economic recovery committee this morning to sign off on the measures, which were decided following a meeting of the committee on Thursday.
The changes – which come after the state reported 70,000 cases across the last 48 hours and another 38,625 cases on Friday – will be in place from tomorrow until at least January 27.
Singing and dancing will be prohibited in hospitality venues (including pubs, clubs, nightclubs, bars and restaurants), entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities. The restriction will not apply to weddings or for students, instructors and performers.
There will also be a pause on certain non-elective surgeries.
While the "overwhelming majority" of major events in NSW will proceed, those deemed to be at a "high-risk venue" will be postponed where necessary.
There are now 1609 people in hospital with Covid, 131 of which are in intensive care and 38 on ventilators.
Hospitalisations have increased by 118 from 1491 patients on Wednesday and ICU presentations have increased by 12.
At the peak of the Delta variant outbreak on September 21, 1266 people were hospitalised, with 244 patients in intensive care and 118 people on ventilators.
Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19.
The positivity rate, from the 111,231 PCR tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, was 31.46 per cent.
Testing capacity in NSW remains under enormous pressure with authorities urging only people with symptoms to get a PCR test or those who live in a household with a confirmed case.
