Dominic Perrottet: Premier says NSW is strong enough to beat latest wave

Writing exclusively for The Daily Telegraph, Premier Dominic Perrottet says NSW is strong enough to handle rising cases before Christmas.

In recent days it has all come flooding back: the fear, the frustration, the disappointment, as a new outbreak and a new variant make it clear the pandemic isn’t over yet.

Many people are worried about themselves and their loved ones getting sick or even dying. Some are more worried for their livelihoods if restrictions return. Others worry about their mental and social wellbeing, and that of their kids.

No matter who you are or what your circumstances, it’s hard to bear. The most important thing for all of us to remember is that, as you go about your day, everyone you encounter also happens to be in the midst of a long and arduous test of their resolve. A touch of kindness and solidarity will go a long way.

Alongside the wave of worry is a wash of pandemic fatigue.

Premier Dominic Perrottet says the people of NSW have the ability to get through this. Picture: NCA Newswire

We all want it to be over. But this is the challenge of our generation, and now it is up to all of us to dig deeper yet again, to tap new reservoirs of strength, and carry one another forward.

That’s not easy, especially with so many conflicting opinions and reports out there, and when the age-old temptation of playing up the fear factor is just too good for some to pass up.

But fear and division can only hold us back.

What will get us through is unity, and the strength it brings.

The outbreak we are facing is significant. And the feelings that come flooding back reflect the habits and reflexes we have all developed in response to pandemic news.

One of the most powerful reflexes is the feeling that with every new case, we should lock everything down.

But this is not December 2019, and since the virus first emerged, one thing above all else has changed the game: vaccination.

NSW is one of the most highly vaccinated places in the world. The people of our state did that, by choice.

People are seen at the Sydney Olympic Park Vaccination Hub to get the jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

We took responsibility, went out in droves and got vaccinated to protect ourselves against the serious effects of the virus. And we did it so we could open our state back up and get back to life.

Vaccination offers a level of protection that, previously, we could only get by staying home. The best advice indicates that a booster dose will provide even better protection, so we should all go and get that too, as soon as we’re eligible.

Before widespread vaccination, high case numbers meant our hospital system would be overwhelmed unless we imposed drastic restrictions on movement and activity in the community.

But vaccination has been demonstrated to very clearly reduce pressure on the hospital system, and since the start of the pandemic we have been strengthening and preparing the system to manage this challenge.

So while previously, case numbers were the most important metric to watch, now it’s hospitalisations, and especially ICU admissions.

Vaccination is our most powerful weapon against COVID, but it’s only one part of an arsenal of deeply ingrained pandemic health habits: wash your hands; keep your distance, and if you can’t, wear a mask; get tested and stay home if you have symptoms; limit your movement and avoid high-risk situations.

These are all still important, but again, we can approach them differently now compared to the past two years because of the vastly different position we are in.

It is time to shift the balance back to personal responsibility, because a strong, healthy society is built not on the dictates of government, but on the common pursuit of the common good.

Despite all the government interventions, it is that unity of purpose and generosity of spirit among the people of our state that has propelled NSW through each stage of the pandemic so far. Now we have reached the next stage, the one we have been working towards for so long: living with the virus, with the protection of vaccines.

Living with the virus doesn’t mean living as if it doesn’t exist. The unavoidable reality of our time is that disruption of all sorts should be expected - to businesses, to schools, to work and play.

The next stage for people in NSW will be to live with the virus. People: Getty Images

Our goal will be to limit the effects as much as possible with localised responses and support.

Because in this phase, as we are witnessing, case numbers are bound to rise, just as the modelling predicted, and we are all likely to have a close encounter with COVID.

This is not to be taken lightly. The safety of the community is and always will be our top priority, and if the trajectory of an outbreak appears likely to put our health system under excessive pressure, we will change our approach, tailoring it to the circumstances and the evidence.

For now, that is not the case. So we are faced with our moment of truth.

Fear will try to persuade us to push this moment down the road.

But fear defeats us all. We have to rise above it, calm, resolute and united.

And we will.

NSW is resilient. Our people are strong.

This is our moment to stand tall and lead the nation out of this pandemic.