Thousands in western Sydney could be released from ultra-hard lockdown as NSW Government reviews hotspot boundaries while cases fall and vaccination rises – but other suburbs could take their place
Thousands of residents in western Sydney suburbs with low rates of Covid transmission and high vaccination rates could be released from tougher lockdowns – but more virus-hit suburbs could take their place.
State Liberal MPs have urged the NSW government to exclude suburbs from the 12 LGAs of concern if they can maintain high vaccination rates and low case numbers.
A government review will look at alternatives to locking down entire government areas and consider a suburb-by-suburb approach, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Thousands of residents in western Sydney suburbs with low rates of Covid transmission and high vaccination rates could be released from their tougher lockdown. Pictured are residents in Burwood in Sydney’s inner-west
Pictured is a queue outside a Covid-19 pop-up vaccination clinic at Ashfield in Sydney’s inner-west on September 10
The review comes as first-dose coverage rates hit 81 per cent in Blacktown in the city’s west on Monday and 90 per cent in Burwood in the inner-west.
The percentage of Burwood residents who have had at least one Covid-19 jab is 66 per cent higher than it was two months ago.
Liberal member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly said it was unfair his electorate in north-west Sydney was still included in the Blacktown LGA hotspot when the rate of transmission there was less than southern parts of the government area.
‘I think it’s time for the suburbs of northern Blacktown to be released because case numbers are coming down,’ he said.
More to come