NSW virus cases surge amid fears of new cluster
Pressure grows on New South Wales Premier to send Sydney into lockdown
Pressure is mounting for New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian to send all of Sydney into lockdown after the state recorded 18 cases over the past 24 hours.
This news comes amid fears of a new Croydon cluster in Sydney’s inner west. Six new coronavirus cases were linked to three families in the area yesterday. An additional 34 close contacts have also been associated with the cluster, with a warning from Berejiklian that more cases will arise due to the “extended family’s movements”.
However, speaking to ABC, physician and broadcaster Dr Norman Swan said we likely undiagnosed the virus by “at least a factor of three” and that the state’s virus figures could be closer to 450 to 500 cases.
Instead, he said NSW should “act fast, act early, beg for forgiveness later” and institute a citywide lockdown, mandatory mask wearing and cancel major events.
Despite this, when asked whether Sydney would enter a 10-day preventive lockdown, Berejiklian told reporters: “Health advice doesn’t request it at this stage.”
She said: “The health advice is still such that we have a handle on the current outbreak.
“The data we get is ongoing information to us and if the health advice ever changes, I have demonstrated already my Government is quick to act. We will change the settings in place.”
Instead, Berejiklian called for increased testing and asked residents to follow the public health orders.
“I indicated yesterday and the day before that Greater Sydney is on high alert and that’s certainly magnified,” she said.
“We’re also relying on people exercising their common sense and not putting themselves in a situation which makes them or their family member vulnerable.
“No matter what great policies or health orders we have in place, you can’t cover every single exceptional circumstance and that’s why common sense is so important.”
This comes as several people on social media have called for Sydney to go into lockdown to stop the spread, with Swan a vocal advocate.
“The Premier just said that NSW always acts on the precautionary principle. If so, on the basis of the numbers and locations, now is the time for a Greater Sydney lockdown,” tweeted Swan, who is also the host of Radio National’s Health Report.
Many have also called for masks to be mandated. As it stands, NSW Health “strongly recommend people wear masks while indoors and on public transport, at the supermarket, shops and at entertainment venues if physical distancing of 1.5m is unable to be maintained”. In response to yesterday’s 18 new cases, Berejiklian has announced tighter restrictions for Greater Sydney which came into effect overnight. Household gatherings have been restricted to five visitors, while outdoor gatherings have been reduced from 50 to 30.
Although restrictions for the northern zone of the northern beaches have remained the same, those living in the southern zone will also only be allowed five visitors per household, including children, and all visitors must be from the same zone.
NSW Health has also asked residents to limit non-essential gatherings over the New Year period.
“These changes come into effect from midnight tonight [Wednesday, December 30] and will be in place until further notice,” they said in a statement.
“People are encouraged to limit non-essential gatherings over the New Year period where possible, to further minimise the risk of transmission in the community.”