Southwest Sydney emerges as NSW’s new Covid-19 ground zero
Southwest Sydney is the new ground zero for NSW’s Covid outbreak and there are genuine fears things could be about to get a lot worse.
Southwest Sydney is the new ground zero for NSW’s Covid-19 outbreak and there are genuine fears things could be about to get a lot worse.
The three local government areas of most concern are Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool where, in the past 48 hours, there have been a total of 21 new coronavirus cases recorded.
Authorities are so concerned about cases emerging from the region that they warned of a spike in numbers in the coming days. There were 37 new cases on Wednesday and 38 new cases on Thursday.
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NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters on Thursday that the areas of concern include Bossley Park, Smithfield, Fairfield, Glenfield, West Hoxton Park, Greenacres, St Johns Park, Bonnyrigg, Bankstown and Roselands.
“In terms of the areas that we are concerned about, we obviously need everyone to be concerned,” she said.
“When I read out the suburbs, it doesn’t mean if you are in a different suburb you don’t have to be worried. But what we’re trying to highlight is areas where we are particularly calling out for testing.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that a failure to adhere to rules could lead to not only an extension of the current three-week lockdown but specific measures for the more than 100 suburbs that comprise those three local government areas.
“Every single one of us has a role to play in keeping our loved ones safe but also keeping NSW strong and this is our big chance, our one chance, to prevent us from having to go into lockdown at a future date because we know how contagious this Delta strain is,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said her government was “pretty confident” that the spread from Bondi and the southeast suburbs was under control but cases had flared up in southwest Sydney.
“Can I say to the communities in those area, many have a similar background to me, please don’t mingle with family. I haven’t seen my parents since the lockdown started — it is hard.
“Don’t think it is OK to visit your cousins or have sleepovers. Please, in those three local government areas, limit your movement. The New South Wales government doesn’t want to go to the next stage but we are even considering if there are any further actions we need to take in those three local government areas.”
Dr Chant reiterated those messages.
“In those communities we are asking you to just redouble your efforts. Please stay at home.
“So if you are in those local government government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown, please stay at home. Do not visit loved ones. Try and engage through digital means.
“Try and avoid any unnecessary contact with other additional households and please limit your movements into any indoor environments.”
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters on Wednesday that among 75 infringement notices handed out in the previous 24 hours, two “of concern” involved a barber shop in Liverpool “carrying out hair cutting”.
“Clearly those people, no regard for the public health orders, and in fact, the situation that the premier and the chief health officer have alerted us to today in those three local government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown, it is quite clear that police, based on that health advice need to redouble down their efforts again in those local government areas, that is happening right now.”
Cumberland City Council Mayor Steve Christou denied southwest Sydney residents had been doing the wrong thing during lockdown, which he said was “crippling” local businesses.
“I don’t believe (the restrictions) have been that hard to follow, I think a lot of people have been doing the wrong thing across the board, not just in western Sydney – and it’s hard when you keep putting people in lockdown after lockdown with no real way out,” he told Seven’s Sunrise on Thursday morning.
“I think the state premiers and the federal government need to show some real leadership on this issue,” he said.
“Get on the same page, stop playing politics and come out with a unified approach on how we’re going to handle this.”
"People's livelihoods are at stake"
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) July 7, 2021
Cumberland Mayor @ChristouSteve is calling on the NSW and federal governments to "step up" and offer more support to businesses and workers affected by Sydney's extended lockdown. pic.twitter.com/uu2ExbrvPP
He said the alternative to lockdowns was to “get the vaccine rollout right” and “stop arguing at a political level between various state and political leaders”.
“We can’t keep shutting people down again and again and again, people’s livelihoods are at stake,” he said.
The NSW Government’s efforts to stay on top of the virus and end the two-week lockdown failed to materialise early this week as daily case numbers rose to the mid-30s.
Ms Berejiklian announced that an additional week would be required to do what is necessary.
As case numbers grow, so too do the number of people in intensive care due to Covid-19.
Dr Chant told reporters on Wednesday there were 37 people in hospital, including seven people in ICU and two on ventilators.
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