NSW Premier Refuses to Rule Out Further COVID-19 Restrictions but Makes Strong Vow on Lockdowns
Targeted restrictions could be reimposed as Omicron surges in New South Wales - but a full lockdown is not being considered, Premier Dominic Perrottet says.
The premier announced yesterday his team is not considering further lockdowns, as the state surpasses 11,000 COVID-19 cases. Instead, he says, “targeted responses” would be implemented if the health situation worsened.
“The alternative is, as we move through this next phase of the pandemic is to go back into lockdown,” Mr Perrottet said .
“That is not what we’re doing in NSW, that is not the alternative that we’re considering. We’ve said we will tailor our response to the situation that comes. If evidence changes, we will have targeted restrictions in place.
“But the key metric here is vaccination rates, that is our key to success.”
It comes as NSW recorded a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases with almost twice as many people being confirmed with the virus overnight. The state reported 11,201 cases on Wednesday with 157,758 tests in the last 24 hours.
There are now 625 people in hospital with the virus, with 61 of them in intensive care, one more than on Tuesday.
NSW also announced a further three deaths.
NSW COVID cases almost double in one day
Yesterday’s numbers are a huge leap from Tuesday’s 2738 cases the 1999 recorded on Monday, and 1608 cases on Sunday.
The new figures come only three days after Australia surpassed the unwanted milestone of recording 10,000 COVID cases in one day.
NSW is also facing increased demand on COVID-19 testing that is pushing testing centres beyond capacity.
Wait times for results have also blown out, with the usual 24 hour turnaround blowing out to five days in some cases.
Thousands of people across NSW - including travellers required to have a negative PCR test before arriving in Queensland - queued for hours to be swabbed.
Queensland SCRAPS controversial PCR COVID-19 testing requirements
Queensland has now announced it will accept rapid antigen tests instead of PCR tests for travellers from interstate hotspots from January 1.
The NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet was pleading with the Queensland government on Tuesday to change its border entry requirements.
The premier said only those who are unwell or contacted by NSW Health should present for testing, to help alleviate pressure on clinics, many of which have reduced operating hours over the festive period.