Experts predict Sydney lockdown could be extended again
The NSW Premier has dropped the biggest hint yet that Sydney’s lockdown is here to stay, after the state hit a grim new case number record.
Sydney’s lockdown could last a month if the community transmission numbers do not drop, according to reports.
On Thursday, the highest number of infections during the recent outbreak was recorded – a whopping 38.
So far, health experts and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian have been vague with their timelines of when the lockdown will end, after it was extended by one week, from July 9 to July 16.
“We are still aiming for that (July 16), don’t get me wrong, but also know that is dependent on all of us doing the right thing,” Ms Berejiklian said this week.
“We just need people to stop interacting for this lockdown to work, and I don’t just mean in one part of Sydney – this applies to all people and stay-at-home areas.”
The Australian reports that a government official told the publication that a further extension remained a possibility.
They said the extension of the lockdown will depend on the weekend’s infection data.
It comes as health officials and police try to quell the amount of infectious people in the community to stop the spread of the virus.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant is concerned about the surge in unlinked cases and described case numbers as “stubborn”, saying infections had already “broken containment lines” in the southwest.
Her concerns over unlinked cases provides a further clue of a possible extra week of lockdown on the horizon.
“We are finding more unlinked cases now, whereas early on it was very linked,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“It is hard (with the current) level of vaccine coverage not to see a significant escalation in cases.
“I’m also very conscious that vaccines will be available in the near future in sufficient quantities to protect us, (we can then) have a different conversation about community transmission at that time.”
Dr Chant said the drive towards zero community transmission will continue as the vaccine rollout finally begins to ramp up, signalling an extension of lockdown, but that attitudes towards the spread could change when enough people were vaccinated.
Meanwhile, a news.com.au poll has revealed a surprising stance in favour of the lockdown.
Almost 25,000 respondents have voted in the poll titled “how long should the Sydney lockdown last?”.
“Until we hit zero cases” was the most popular response with 41 per cent of the vote, followed by “until the authorities are happy” answer with 28 per cent.
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