Dan Andrews takes swipe at Sydney lockdown approach as restrictions ease across regional Victoria

Daniel Andrews has taken a swipe at NSW’s lockdown approach, saying one thing doesn’t work, while being grilled at a press conference.

Daniel Andrews has taken a swipe at the NSW government’s handling of its latest Covid-19 outbreak, saying partial lockdowns “do not work”.

It comes as 11 new cases of locally acquired coronavirus were detected in the community on Monday, with the Victorian Premier lifting lockdown for regional Victoria.

Mr Andrews said metropolitan Melbourne would remain under strict stay-at-home orders and could not detail if the city would be freed from lockdown beyond Thursday.

Daniel Andrews has taken a swipe at the NSW government’s handling of its latest Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

When questioned if continuos statewide lockdowns were a sustainable approach the Premier pointed to Sydney’s situation.

“Whether its sustainable or not it’s the only option we have,” Mr Andrews said.

“If there’s no lockdown it’s not 11 cases it‘s a lot more than that – I'm not here to be a commentator on Sydney but if you want to see whether locking down some local government areas works has a look what’s happening up there.

“We tried that last year – it didn't work against last year’s coronavirus let alone against Delta.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian expanded lockdown to Tamworth. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

NSW posted 283 new locally acquired cases on Monday as the state expanded its lockdown to Tamworth after an infected woman from the Newcastle area travelled to the area on August 5.

“I’m not here to critical of them (Sydney) but we will not be instituting partial lockdown of one local government area because what starts as one case finishes up as 16 or 17 reasonably quickly,” Mr Andrews said.

“In any event we wish them well … but a nuanced approach would not work.”

Mr Andrews said a decision about whether to lift or extend Melbourne’s lockdown would be made as close to Thursday as possible.

Originally published as Dan Andrews takes swipe at Sydney lockdown approach as restrictions ease across regional Victoria