There are no easy decisions in a pandemic. While we would love the lockdown to end, Dr Kerry Chant has advised that the risk remains too high.
As we have seen in Sydney, Newcastle and Dubbo, two or three new cases per day can very quickly become 10 or 20. The extension of the lockdown will give us a chance to identify any undetected cases in the Central Coast community. Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms needs to come forward for testing.
I believe that more must be done to restrict the mobility of authorised workers between Sydney and the Central Coast. I have raised this important issue with the Deputy Premier and thank him for being receptive to tightening the permit system.
I also believe that face-to-face learning should be resumed as soon as it is COVID-safe. Today I will be writing to the Premier asking her to lobby the Federal Government to prioritise COVID-19 vaccines for school staff and teachers.
I want to acknowledge the fantastic work being done by everyone in our Central Coast community to follow the rules, get tested, and most importantly get vaccinated.