NSW lashed for excuses over latest covid outbreak

An expert has lashed NSW’s excuses for its new outbreak, warning the “enemy” is going to keep outsmarting us if something doesn’t change.

Questions are mounting over the exact circumstances surrounding NSW’s recent Covid-19 outbreak, with one expert lashing NSW for making “excuses”.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced one new locally acquired Covid-19 case on Friday, revealing a man in his 50s tested positive after attending Westfiled at Bondi Junction.

He went to the Myer store on June 12 where a previously known case also attended.

Four cases linked to the state’s new cluster, which is believed to have started with an infected limousine driver who transports international flight crews to and from hotel quarantine. The driver contracted the “highly infectious” Delta strain of the virus.

Another possible Covid-19 case was detected in Sydney’s northwestern suburbs, though no link has been found between this case and the other infections.

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People line up for testing at the Bondi Covid-19 drive-through testing clinic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

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As NSW’s situation continues to unfold, many people are questioning why the airport driver wasn’t vaccinated and whether necessary infection controls were in place while he was transporting the international aircrews.

All drivers transporting international aircrew are required to be tested for coronavirus every day, however it was revealed the driver’s first time being tested was on June 15.

Leading epidemiologist Professor Mary Louise-McLaws hit out at NSW officials, saying more care needs to be taken to bolster infection control and safety protocols.

“I know they keep saying nothing is perfect, but that is not good enough anymore because we now have got an enemy that is this Delta variant and of course we will have other variants of concern that is outsmarting us and we have to do precautionary thinking,” she told the ABC.

Professor McLaws said the virus has already shown it can get around the current barriers in place.

“The virus has already escaped and while the testing is good when this does happen, the virus has already escaped. What we do need to do is sure up the quarantine program so that with never have to do these downstreaming to mop up the problem,” she said.

“For authorities to say that it is always going to be slightly problematic, that it is near enough, that is not good enough with this enemy that keeps going to outsmart us.”

New restrictions as officials on high alert

New restrictions have been brought in for people in the Sydney and Blue Mountains (excluding the Central Coast and Wollongong and the Illawarra).

From 4pm on Friday until just after midnight on June 24 the following restrictions will be in place:

• Avoid non-essential visits to aged care and disability facilities, but if visiting, wear a mask and limit visits to two people per day.

• Masks will be mandatory on public transport from 4pm today.

• Masks are strongly encouraged in all public indoor venues, such as retail, theatres, hospitals, aged care facilities and for front-of-house hospitality staff.

“It is not compulsory (to wear a mask in public indoor venues) but we are recommending that especially if you cannot guarantee social distancing especially in those places around the eastern suburbs,” said Ms Berejiklian.

Ms Berejiklian said organised events should proceed.

“If you’re planning to go to an organised event, those events should proceed because all major events, all outdoor events, all events have good COVID safety plans. So we don’t want anyone to cancel any event. We don’t want anyone to cancel any of those organised ticket events in particular,” she said.

“Just make sure that whether you are the organiser of the event or someone attending, that you stick to those recommendations we have given you and the good COVID safety plans.”

RELATED: ‘Cancel your plans’: Sydneysiders warned

NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian speaking to the media in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Dr Kerry Chant revealed she is growing more concerned about the situation in NSW and explained what could lead to more restrictions.

“Every case is separate, the things we are looking up particularly other nature not of direct exposure, the fact that this lady yesterday associated with the cafe exposure was positive, what was pleasing was her next ring of close contacts were negative,” she said.

“If we see that next ring is becoming positive before we get to them, that raises a concern because it means we are chasing our tails. And that is an indicator of risk.

“And if we see unlinked cases that we are concerned about.

“And my concern has gone up a little bit today because I am aware that transmission has occurred in a shopping centre and I understand that people may not have religiously checked in, people may not have been conscious that they went shopping or which settings.”

Vaccines not mandatory for quarantine drivers

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said being vaccinated against Covid-19 isn’t a requirement for the drivers who transport international aircrews to and from quarantine, despite the risks associated with the role.

Mr Hazzard said making the vaccination mandatory could lead to a shortage of drivers.

“There has never been a mandatory requirement for vaccinations for drivers but we have certainly been doing all we can to get people vaccination in the entire quarantine … system. The issue has been with drivers, there is no capacity to force them to do it,” he told 2GB.

“It’s been a tricky one, because the industry itself is saying that if you force them … to have mandatory vaccinations, there may well be a shortage of drivers because some of them will just say ‘nup, not doing it’.”

He confirmed the drivers are required to take a daily saliva test but said authorities are looking into why this driver only had his first test on June 15.

Mr Hazzard refused to confirm whether the driver was wearing a mask when transporting the aircrews, saying NSW Police would investigate whether any infection controls has been breached.

“I will say this, every driver is required by our health orders to wear masks at the airport and it would be very unfortunate if you were not wearing a mask. I am not going to comment specifically on whether he did or he didn’t,” he said.

“If they are driving people, there is an order requiring that they wear a mask. The message I guess more broadly is, if you’re involved in this system and you’re in the private sector, for heaven’s sakes, comply with the law because you may end up causing all sorts of grief.”