The Daily Populous Thursday July 8th, 2021 night edition
Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by Hughjarse

NSW may never control its current COVID-19 outbreak, and be forced to live with the virus for good, Health Minister Brad Hazzard says.

Key points: Brad Hazzard says if the state can't control transmission there will be no choice but to live with the Delta variant

Brad Hazzard says if the state can't control transmission there will be no choice but to live with the Delta variant Residents in the Fairfield, Liverpool and Cantebury-Bankstown LGAs have been told to stay home if they already have enough food

Residents in the Fairfield, Liverpool and Cantebury-Bankstown LGAs have been told to stay home if they already have enough food Gladys Berejiklian says the next nine days will determine what life looks like until October

The admission came towards the end of a long press conference and signalled, the possibility at least, of a major pandemic policy shift in Australia's most populous state.

NSW is grappling with an outbreak of the ultra-infectious Delta COVID-19 variant, which has been spreading through the community — albeit at low levels — since last month.

While it started in Sydney's eastern suburbs, the main areas of concern are now in the city's south west, in the local government areas of Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown.

The state's chief health officer, Kerry Chant, implored people to reduce their movements around the Harbour City.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 41 seconds 2 m 41 s Greater Sydney lockdown extended for one week

On the same day the lockdown affecting Greater Sydney and its surrounds was extended for a week, Mr Hazzard was asked if the state would ever gain control of the Delta COVID-19 variant.

It was put to him that, perhaps, the state should just "give up" — something that would put NSW's strategy at odds with management blueprints in other states and territories.

"If the individuals that we need don't hear Dr Chant's message and don't respond, then at some point we're going to move to a stage where we're going to have to accept that the virus has a life which will continue in the community," he said.

"Particularly for the community in south-west Sydney; Canterbury, Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool, [you need] to understand that your individual actions may well determine the future of this virus in our community."

NSW recorded 27 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday, and only 13 were in isolation for their full infectious period.

There are now 347 active COVID-19 cases in NSW.

Dr Chant said it was "crunch time" for the LGAs of Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown.

"If you have got enough food, don't leave the house at this time," she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has already warned the state should expect an increase in case numbers on Thursday, and said even stricter social distancing measures could be introduced in Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown.

"Can I say to the communities in those areas, many have a similar background to me, please don't mingle with family ... don't think it is OK to visit your cousins or have sleep overs," Ms Berejiklian, who has Armenian heritage, said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 58 seconds 2 m 58 s NSW Police doubling down efforts in Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown LGAs

The Premier said the next nine days would determine what life in NSW looks like for much of what is left of 2021.

She has not expressed confidence that this lockdown will achieve zero community transmission, rather that it is about getting as close as possible.

"This is really a point in time where the next nine or 10 days will determine how we live until [more] vaccines arrive at the end of October," she said.

"Our future is in our own hands. It's not just about following the rules, it's not just about knowing what to do, it's actually not cutting corners, it's making sure everybody does the right thing."

Ms Berejiklian said it was "absolutely her intention" that the lockdown ends at midnight on July 16 but people must take "personal responsibility" to ensure the state doesn't come in and out of lockdown until more of the community is vaccinated.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed state and territory leaders had agreed to a four-phase plan that would see Australia transform into a vaccinated nation that manages COVID-19 with few restrictions.

At the moment, its in phase one, which is about controlling and suppressing the virus.

Less than a week after Mr Morrison's announcement, it appears NSW and its more than 8 million residents, could be headed in a different direction.

TheDevilsAdvocado_ on July 7th, 2021 at 09:57 UTC »

Is it just me or is Brad Hazzard just a complete fuckhead?

purse_of_ankles on July 7th, 2021 at 06:50 UTC »

Legitimately thought this was a betoota post

verifiedpain on July 7th, 2021 at 05:54 UTC »

"NSW may have to give up on ICAC and live with pork-barreling, government admits"