NSW Health Minister issues new warning as restrictions tighten

Canberra: New South Wales residents were warned not to get complacent as restrictions on pubs and bars tightened yesterday.

The state’s Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was concerned people weren’t taking coronavirus seriously enough.

“It worries me as Health Minister in NSW and all the health ministers across the country that perhaps community members are feeling complacent,” Mr Hazzard told Today.

“We have good people working but that doesn’t stop it getting out of control if we become complacent. If we’re not prepared to do what we need to do. If we’re not prepared to keep the hand hygiene up. If we’re not prepared to keep the social distancing going.

“That’s an important message. Don’t be complacent and be careful.”

The warning comes as NSW tightened restrictions for pubs and bars yesterday after the number of cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel outbreak continues to rise.

Pubs and bars now have one week to submit a COVIDSafe plan to the State Government.

People will be able to book up to 10 people for a pub and 300 people will be the maximum allowed inside a venues depending on the one person per four square metre rule.