NSW NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian refuses to act on tougher measures against coronavirus

Gladys Berejiklian refuses to enact more aggressive policies, despite conceding NSW is bracing for a “critical mass” of COVID-19 cases.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: John Grainger

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is declining to enact more aggressive policies of social distancing across the community or shut down parliament next week, despite conceding the state is bracing for a “critical mass” of COVID-19 cases that will eventually overwhelm the health system.

Ms Berejiklian made the remarks during a press conference at NSW parliament on Tuesday morning alongside her health minister, Brad Hazzard, who revealed a further 39 cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed overnight. He said that number is likely to rise further before an official announcement is provided by NSW Health.

The latest rise in infections has sets a new daily record for the state — on Monday, thirty seven cases were diagnosed, the largest increase since tallying began. There are now 210 cases statewide and 440 across the country.

As she attempts to strike a balance of heightened concern and calm, Ms Berejiklian’s messaging on social interactions in the community has become mixed.

She said her government would adhere to a “no regrets” policy on economic and health stimulus measures, and stated several times she did not want to look back on the current crisis and wonder “why did we not provide what was asked of us”.

But more stringent measures, such as proactive school closures and severely limiting crowd gatherings – such as those seen in the United States, Israel and other countries – were not necessary for the moment, she said, even though the state is trending towards a devastating rise in case numbers.

“We are not at that stage yet,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Our aim now is to reduce the spread, because we are getting to a critical mass of patients, and we’ll get to a point where that won’t be as manageable to us as now. We won’t be able to contain it as much as we would like in the weeks and days moving forward given the number of cases we have.”

Some schools in NSW, and elsewhere, are already closing proactively or trialling learn-at-home procedures; workplaces across the state have also asked employees to work from home.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the economic downturn was expected to last between six and nine months.

Currently, NSW is limiting gatherings to no more than 500 people and has instituted $11,000 fines for any breaches. The NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, has said people should continue attending amateur sporting competitions and training nights, if they wish, but they should exercise an abundance of caution in doing so.

Overnight the Premier and her treasurer announced a $2.3bn stimulus package that is expected to see $700m channelled to the health system and a further $1.6bn provided to businesses in the form of tax cuts, waivers, construction spending and other measures.

The health funding will be used to double Intensive Care Unit capabilities, purchase medical equipment, prepare for additional coronavirus testing, and to establish acute respiratory clinics.

NSW Labor has criticised the package for favouring large businesses and not appropriating enough support to smaller businesses under greater pressure.

“If the situation worsens the government should consider grants and loans for small businesses to help them stay afloat, as France and Germany have done,” Labor’s shadow treasurer Walt Secord said.

Ms Berejiklian also stopped short of following NSW Labor’s call to shut down parliament, which is due to sit next week, saying it was necessary to pass some of the stimulus measures provided.

“Parliament will sit, but we will respect the social distancing advice we get from health. But I don’t think anybody will disagree with the fact that if we need to pass urgent legislation we need to do that,” she said.