Sydney’s lockdown exit strategy revealed

Gladys Berejiklian has provided the most detailed look so far at how she thinks NSW will exit the Covid-19 lockdown - starting in weeks.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has provided more details on how the state will exit lockdown as it continues to struggle with rising Covid-19 cases.

Coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in Greater Sydney despite the city being in lockdown for almost seven weeks, with a record high of 356 cases on Tuesday.

Despite the rising cases, Ms Berejiklian is giving residents hope for some easing of restrictions in September and October, with more freedoms once the state gets 70 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, which it’s on track to do by the end of October.

Ms Berejiklian has previously said some easing may be possible in September if the state achieves a target of six million vaccine doses.

On Wednesday, she made clearer that these “additional freedoms” were still being considered and would likely be targeted at communities with high vaccination rates and low numbers of covid cases.

“I think it’s important to say to people, that if we have high rates of vaccination there is every chance you might be able to do something more than what you can today,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Does it mean we will live like we did before the outbreak? No, but what it does mean is that people will be able to do more than what they can today.”

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has provided an insight into when lockdown may ease in NSW. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA Newswire

Earlier this week, Ms Berejiklian floated the idea that vaccinated hairdressers may be allowed to open again. Workers in hotels or gyms could also be in line to return.

It follows the return of construction workers at unoccupied worksites, with those in eight local government areas of concern also required to be vaccinated.

Construction workers will also be prioritised at a vaccination drive to be held at Sydney Olympic Park this Sunday aimed at providing the jab to 8000 workers.

An end to lockdown would not come until the state has vaccinated 70 per cent of people over the age of 16 with two doses, which is the point where Ms Berejiklian said “we start living life like we used to before the outbreak”.

NSW appears to be on track to reach the 70 per cent target by November 2, according to covidlive.com.au.

It is expected to hit 80 per cent by November 19, based on the current rate of vaccinations.

Ms Berejiklian said that once 80 per cent had been vaccinated, the state will no longer focus on the number of cases.

“We focus on the number of hospitalisations because when you have such high rates of vaccination, people cannot only live more freely but we can focus on keeping people out of hospital as opposed to counting the cases.”

The figures are based on modelling by the Doherty Institute that suggested releasing restrictions before 70 per cent were vaccinated would see cases increase. The figures also form part of the Morrison government’s plan to open up Australia to the rest of the world.

A fruit and vegetable market in Bankstown. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

NSW plan will benefit affluent areas first

Ms Berejiklian’s plans to relax rules in areas with low cases and high vaccination rates will likely benefit Sydney’s most affluent suburbs first.

According to the latest federal government figures, the Sydney area with the highest proportion of its population vaccinated is North Sydney and Hornbsy, where almost 52 per cent of people have had one dose, and almost 27 per cent have had two doses.

This area includes some of the wealthiest suburbs in the city including North Sydney and Mosman. These suburbs have also not recorded any covid cases in the past fortnight.

This compares to the inner south west and the south west areas of Sydney, which have the lowest levels of vaccination of 33.5 per cent and 33.10 per cent.

These are the areas also worst hit by the current outbreak and include the Canterbury-Bankstown area, which has recorded more than 880 cases in the past two weeks.

Criticism over plans for early easing

University of NSW Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, who is an adviser to the World Health Organisation, has previously said the state’s plans to open ease restrictions once 50 per cent of adults had been vaccinated was “unethical” and it could also create conditions for a “super mutant” to emerge.

“By my calculations, it’s not high enough to prevent transmissions – you will see continuous transmission around Australia,” she said.

Prof McLaws said Australia’s population would be particularly vulnerable to a Covid-19 mutation because so many people were unvaccinated or partly vaccinated.

“If we don’t get this under control, we might make this a super mutant.”

Prof McLaws doesn’t think any restrictions should be lifted unless everyone has had a chance to get two doses of the vaccine.

“Those who haven’t been vaccinated will have to be lockdown, otherwise you will have a death every second day,” she said.

While the elderly and frontline workers have largely received the jab, this would leave 12-39 year olds at risk of acquiring covid.

“I find that cavalier and inequitable,” she said.

“You cannot start opening up when young people haven’t had the ability to vaccinate.

“It’s just ageist against the young.”

Prof McLaws said the UK had already seen an increase in cases among young people and children, who had not been given the chance to vaccinate previously.

She said young people needed to be given a proper choice of vaccines before restrictions were eased.

“So that when we do open restrictions, we’re not forcing our young people, who need to put food on the table and pay rent, to work because of fear they’ll be destitute,” she said.

“How is that a duty of care, how is that ethical?”

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