NSW lockdown won’t end until cases come down

There are reports that NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant told authorities an extension of the lockdown will be necessary beyond July 9.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant has revealed what it will take for the state to end its lockdown as planned at the end of next week.

The state recorded 31 new cases on Friday, including 13 who were active in the community while infectious.

While the numbers continue to grow, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she is “relieved” that NSW “haven’t seen a doubling or tripling of (daily) cases which is what we were afraid of”.

Dr Chant told reporters that lockdown will not end on July 9 as planned if numbers do not come down.

“What I will say to the community is the best chance we have of coming out of the lockdown as quickly as possible is going to be if we see a turn in those numbers,” she said.

RELATED: NSW records 31 new covid cases

“That relies on the community to continue to come out to get tested. We have had a sustained testing level that we have never seen before in the state. I think the community response has been amazing, but we cannot get fatigued, we have to continue to track down any signs of infection in the community.”

The discussion about lockdown ending on July 9 comes amid reports from Nine News that Dr Chant spoke with the The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to inform them that an extension of the lockdown may be necessary.

Nine News understands NSW Health updated AHPPC (meeting of state and Commonwealth health advisors) yesterday that an extension of Sydney's lockdown may be necessary. Kerry Chant refused to comment on what was discussed but did not deny it when asked. @9NewsAUS

— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9) July 2, 2021

When asked whether that discussion took place, Dr Chant said: “Firstly I’d never go to comment on what discussions occur at AHPPC, that is my policy and I would never do that.

“I certainly provide frank advice about all our cases, I will not provide anything around the AHPPC discussion.”

Dr Chant encouraged people in NSW to continue to do the right thing by limiting their movements around the community.

“If you stay at home for the vast majority of the time, limit your grocery shopping to as brief as you can, make sure that you’re going at times that are not busy, maintaining that social distancing, even if you haven’t been isolating, you are not posing a threat to the rest of the community.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks during a press conference on Thursday. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

“That is the basis for why the lockdown measures are effective but they do rely on individuals taking those steps.”

The Premier said getting out of lockdown “depends on eight million of us”.

“Can I say, our success during the lockdown depends on eight million of us and we each have a role to play because every time we leave the house, we could have the virus … not knowing that we do or we could come into contact with somebody that does.

“I think all of us have equal responsibility during this time to do the right thing and that is why it is so important for all of us to keep working together.”

— More to come