Moama, and the rest of regional NSW, is in lockdown for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as cases continue to leak out of Sydney.
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In the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, August 14, NSW recorded 415 new locally acquired cases, with at least 35 of those infectious in the community, and four more deaths.
It was a slight drop from the 466 cases from the previous 24 hours announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Saturday, which she described as NSW’s “most concerning day” of the pandemic.
The stay-at-home orders for regional NSW residents are in place until midnight Saturday, August 21, with reasonable excuses to leave the home including obtaining goods and services, work and education if you cannot do it from home, medical or caring reasons including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination, and exercise within 5km from your home.
Visitors to the home are banned, except for carers and intimate partners. People who live alone can have a “singles bubble” with a nominated visitor who lives in the same local government area.
Face masks must be carried at all times and be worn indoors (except at home), at certain outdoor gatherings, on public transport and when working outdoors.
The announcement was made by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Twitter at 2.30pm on Saturday, after regional MPs had begun spreading the word on social media.
An official statement from NSW Health was released less than an hour before the lockdown was due to start at 5pm.
Yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian was asked why a press conference wasn’t held on Saturday afternoon to announce the statewide lockdown.
“To be frank, by [Saturday] most of the state was in lockdown already; it was just a few local government areas in rural and regional communities,” she said.
“We also had received advice about many people moving from the ACT down to the southern parts of NSW, which was a concern given what’s happening in the ACT.”
NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton criticised the way the lockdown was announced on Saturday but said the measures were probably necessary with Sydney’s Delta outbreak still not contained.
“It’s a total disgrace they basically only gave us two hours’ notice before the lockdown at 5pm,” she said.
“John Barilaro gets on Twitter and makes the announcement — honestly, I could form a Facebook group called ‘Who’s been blocked by John Barilaro on Twitter’.
“If he’s using Twitter to tell people and then he’s blocking everyone he doesn’t like, how is that a good form of communication?”
She said it was the 15th rule change in 15 days for those in the NSW-Victoria border community and said residents had had a gutful.
“They’re city-centric rules and they’re very vague; my phone has been running hot since [Saturday] afternoon and it continues,” she said.
“I’ve got an enormous amount of people suffering from anxiety, I’ve got people in tears, and that was before the lockdown.
“People’s lives are broken, they’ve cashed in their last chip on their life’s savings, and to date we’ve had no cases.”
Her message to the community was to do the right thing and be vigilant.
“If we get COVID in my electorate we are in a lot of trouble, because we’re so short of medical staff in every hospital that we will not cope. We can’t cope now,” she said.
“I think right from the onset of the outbreak in June we were expecting Gladys to have a quick, harsh lockdown in Sydney . . . she did a half-baked job and did not do what she should’ve done.
“Let’s prove to both the Victorian and NSW governments that the border community is a special area, and we are highly vigilant and respectful of the law and we want to at least go back to some form of normalcy after this lockdown.”
Mr Barilaro said confronted with health advice at noon on Saturday, it was concluded a seven-day lockdown was the “safest and most precautionary approach for regional and rural NSW”.
“To everyone in regional and rural NSW my message is clear, stay home,” he said.
“The reality is if we do the right thing for the next seven days this lockdown in the regions will be short, sharp but will be effective in protecting communities going forward.”
Murrumbidgee Local Health District, which includes the Murray River Council area, has never recorded a case of COVID-19.
From today (Monday, August 16), fines of up to $5000 can be issued for breaches of public health orders in NSW, including a $3000 on-the-spot fine for breaching the rules around entry to regional NSW from Greater Sydney.
A permit system will be in place from this Saturday for people wishing to enter regional NSW, with only a few permitted reasons to do so including authorised work, to inspect real estate, or to travel to a second home for work accommodation or to carry out urgent maintenance and repairs.
Victoria’s border permit system is still in place, with only essential reasons permitted for crossing the border.
For information on regional NSW’s stay-at-home orders visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-regions
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