Covid NSW: Riverina plays Gladys Berejiklian guessing game

Country NSW residents are taking a light-hearted approach to daily Covid updates and rather than trivialising the pandemic, the local MP says the game is a good thing.

The ‘Bored Sydneysider’ game has reached the Riverina with a local Facebook page holding a guessing competition based a key feature of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian before her daily press conference.

Participants have until 10.55am each day to guess correctly what colour Ms Berejiklian’s jacket is going to be.

If the correct number of overnight cases and Ms Berejiklian’s jacket colour and chosen, then the person will receive admin rights of the popular Wagga Wagga Thumbs Up Thumbs Down page.

Wagga residents have started a guessing game based on the daily Covid updates. Picture: Joel Carrett

Some people have even theorised that the colour jacket Ms Berejiklian wears is a hint at the number of cases each day.

“Gladys will be wearing a Red Jacket, and there will be 112 cases in NSW,” one person commented.

 “A Straight jacket and 122 cases in NSW,” said another on the post.

The game started in Sydney earlier this month with Twitter and Facebook users commenting their guess on the livestream 7 minutes before Gladys appeared. 

And rather than trivialising the pandemic, Riverina federal Nationals MP Michael McCormack said the game encouraged people to tune into the latest covid updates.

“These are deeply concerning times, no question, and we need everyone to be their best selves, including in regional areas, as we endeavour to control the current COVID-19 outbreak in Greater Sydney,” he said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian fronts the media each day. Picture: Christian Gilles

“Despite the potential of people trivialising the current situation through a guessing game, if it means more people tuning in to the Premier’s press conference to get the latest information, that can only be a good thing.

“Australians have long used humour to help cope with serious situations – it is a part of our cultural identity.

“It is important everyone should continue to follow the Public Health Orders and restrictions which are based on the best-possible medical advice.”

Gladys Berejiklian announced 97 new coronavirus cases in NSW on Monday morning.

So far no-one has correctly guessed Gladys jacket colour and the number of overnight cases.