Covid update - Thursday
22nd July 2021
COVID UPDATE - Thursday July 22 Like many of you, I’m becoming increasingly frustrated by the logic used in some of the Covid restrictions and the worsening numbers in Sydney. It’s been said we’re only one Sydney tradie away from a local outbreak, and I agree with that. I’ve contacted the Premier, and I know other local MPs have done the same, about reducing movement between Greater Sydney and regional areas such as Lake Macquarie. The idea that construction workers or tradies from Sydney can work here but not in Sydney is baffling and in my view dangerous. The only people who should be coming into the regions from locked down areas are essential workers and those who deliver essential goods. I don’t think the Central Coast is a specific area of concern as there are currently no cases there, but there are now 1648 active cases south of Hornsby and we know that hundreds of those were active in their communities while infectious. Clearly, more needs to be done to stop those numbers moving north. Sydney recorded another 124 cases of community transmission in the 24 hours to 8pm. Of those, 48 were active in the Sydney community while infectious. There are 118 people in NSW hospitals with Covid-related illness with 28 in ICU and 14 on ventilators. We have now gone 350 days without community transmission in the Lake Macquarie-Newcastle area. I’ve got no doubt that the Premier needs to be doing more to make sure that record stays intact. Please remember to use common sense when moving around the place and get tested immediately if you experience any symptoms. Please stay vigilant and stay safe!