Lisa Wilkinson slams lack of contact tracing for taxis on The Sunday Project

It‘s been a cornerstone of the fight against coronavirus in Australia but Lisa Wilkinson has pointed out a “crazy” double standard.

It‘s been a cornerstone of the fight against coronavirus in Australia but Lisa Wilkinson has pointed out the “crazy” double standard that exists when it comes to businesses and contact tracing.

NSW health on Sunday confirmed that a taxi driver had been diagnosed with coronavirus after working nine days while infectious across south-western Sydney.

Health authorities were now scrambling to contact as many of the 13 Cabs driver‘s passengers as possible, with taxi drivers not required to collect customer’s details.

Speaking on The Project Wilkinson said it “makes sense” that taxis be required to record all passenger details the same way cafes and restaurants were.

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Lisa Wilkinson on The Project. Picture: Channel 10

Hospitality venues are required to take the names and contact details of all dine-in customers, with heavy penalties for businesses that don‘t follow these rules.

“It doesn't make sense that they don’t,” co-host Peter Van Olsen agreed.

“Yeah, you can sit in the cafe for 10 minutes and you‘ve punched in the QR code and given them your number,” Wilkinson said.

“You can sit in a taxi for an hour in even closer proximity and there‘s no accountability, which is crazy.

Earlier on Sunday NSW Health‘s Dr Jeremy McAnulty said that “early investigations indicate” the infection was likely acquired at Liverpool Hospital.

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A Sydney taxi driver has tested positive for COVID-19 after working eight days while infectious and visiting several venues in Sydney and on the South Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

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The driver had reportedly worn a mask and also had the COVID-Safe app on while working, which Dr McAnulty said was “being used to help identify contacts”.

But he encouraged anyone who may have taken a cab in suburbs where the driver worked to be on high alert.

The driver worked shifts on September 7 to 10 as well as September 14 to 18 in suburbs Moorebank, Bankstown, Chipping Norton, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Warwick Farm and Milperra.

“People who may have taken taxis in western, south western Sydney must be alert for symptoms,” Dr McAnulty said.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister praised New South Wales’ response to the pandemic as the “gold standard” for Australia.

The PM said the state’s contact tracing abilities, lessened restrictions and open borders is something all other states and territories should aspire to.