Sydney covid lockdown: Warning of strict new restrictions

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned the government could impose strict new restrictions as the number of Covid-19 cases mount.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned of “additional pain” as authorities consider imposing strict new restrictions in southwest Sydney.

“I think (Sydneysiders) are taking it seriously … the vast majority are doing the right thing, but there are some parts of the city where people are pushing at the boundary where it comes to the stay-at-home orders for why you can leave home,” he told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

“We are trying to strengthen that. We need to be tougher and the messaging has to be tougher. In those areas that you mentioned, we may need further restrictions if things do not improve.”

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned of additional restrictions.

Host David Koch suggested the NSW government could bring in a “Northern Beaches-style lockdown” similar to the one imposed over Christmas and New Year.

“Yes, absolutely,” Mr Barilaro replied.

“We will consider what we need to do in those LGAs where we see significant problems, a lot of community transmission and movement of people. Those are the things we look at in our committee meetings each day.”

Mr Barilaro said the NSW government would “take the health advice”.

“We’ve extended the lockdown, so the whole of Sydney is going through this pain,” he said. “If it means additional pain in some areas, we’ll give that consideration.”

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone told Nine’s Today people in western Sydney were following the stay-at-home orders and getting tested.

“I know residents are listening, we had almost 2000 tests last night,” he said.

“The streets were deserted last night. I urge residents to wear masks particularly indoors and keep getting tested if you have symptoms.”

Mr Carbone blamed the NSW government hotel quarantine system for the latest outbreak.

“I‘m concerned southwest Sydney is being unfairly labelled, after all, if the virus was contained in hotel quarantine, we wouldn’t be in this situation or in the first lockdown we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Scrambling for support

The NSW Government is scrambling for support after being blasted over its decision to extend Sydney’s lockdown for another week as experts try to quell the spread of the highly transmissible Covid-19 Delta variant.

Yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast will remain in lockdown until July 16, a week longer than originally planned.

The Premier also hinted that Thursday’s Covid-19 numbers would be higher than usual after 27 cases were recorded on Wednesday, and warned members of the community from Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury Bankstown to stay at home as the city’s southwest Covid-19 hot spots grow.

Ms Berejiklian will give an update on the latest Covid-19 numbers at 11am.

Sky News host Alan Jones savaged the lockdown decision, saying the Premier “has lost the right to govern and to be believed” by the public.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian was savaged for her decision to continue the lockdown. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Sky News host Alan Jones blasted the Premier for leaking information about the lockdown. Picture: Supplied

“Her performance today (Wednesday) was nothing short of a disgrace. It was gutless stuff – leaking it to the media first … and then thanking everyone for calling in Crimestoppers and dobbing everyone in,” he said.

Lockdown costing $1b a week

Meanwhile, businesses are copping the worst of the lockdown costs, with a reported $1 billion going down the drain each week the city stays shut down.

Australian Hotel Association CEO John Whelan blasted the lockdown, claiming it is proof the state is going backwards with its Covid-19 response.

“The lockdown extension is devastating news for more than 50,000 Greater Sydney- based staff who are out of work for another week, as well as the broader NSW hotel industry which has operated under restricted trading conditions for more than 15 months and counting,” he said.

“Our staff have rent and bills to pay. Many are not eligible for government support and a third week with no work really hits hard.”

The NSW government has pleaded with the Federal Government for more support and is considering changes to its current assistance packages – which could see payments for businesses and sole traders earning less than $75,000.

A visibly frustrated NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said during a media conference on Wednesday there may be a time in the future where we have to live with the virus, rather than trying to eliminate it.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks during at a COVID-19 update. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Restrictions here to stay

However, infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collingnon said it would be dangerous to take a hard line stance on lockdowns, and predicted controversial restrictions would remain in place for some time.

“I doubt they (the government) will say just let it (the virus) run. We need restrictions. It ought to be proportionate to the spread. There are going to be restrictions in NSW for the next month or two to some degree,” he told Today on Thursday.

“It will be proportionate to how many cases there are. But that is what we need all around Australia. We can‘t go back to what it was like two years ago. We can only do that once we get 70-80 per cent of the adults vaccinated and that won’t be until the end of the year.”

Sydney remains a ghost town with the lockdown extended until July 16. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Originally published as Sydney covid lockdown: Warning of strict new restrictions