NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was facing its biggest challenge since the pandemic started and cases are likely to go up unless people stayed home and followed lockdown orders.
“Until we get to zero or close to zero, we cannot ease restrictions,” she told reporters on Friday.
“Unless there’s a dramatic turn around in the numbers, I don’t see how we’ll be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday.”
NSW recorded 44 new local COVID-19 cases, with 29 of those either partially or fully infectious in the community.
Ms Berejiklian said the number of cases not in complete isolation was concerning because it meant higher cases in the coming days.
“I need everyone to be shocked because when I said just a few days before we had to go into lockdown that this was the scariest period for New South Wales during the pandemic, unfortunately those words are absolutely the case.”
Lockdown restrictions were further tightened across Greater Sydney from 5pm on Friday.
Exercise outdoors is now restricted to only two people, and is allowed only within 10 kilometres of the resident’s local government area. Browsing at the shops is also banned.
Carpooling between non-household members is also banned, while funerals will be restricted to only ten people from Sunday.
Ms Berejiklian said the biggest challenge facing the state was a lack of compliance.
“The message is do not leave your home. Do not leave your home unless you absolutely have to,” she said.
The premier said the nine per cent low vaccination rate meant there was no option but to suppress community transmission.Read more at SBSNEWS
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