Sydney’s outbreak of the Delta Covid strain is not yet under control despite three weeks of lockdown and cases dipping under 100 four days in a row.
A graph of all the new cases over the past week and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still on the rise.
And the infection rate has seen Australian Medical Association Omar Khorshid claim NSW will need to go harder – or face an ‘indefinite’ lockdown.
This is despite the number of new daily cases appearing to peak on July 12 at 112, with cases hovering between 65 and 97 in the four days since.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly said numbers will continue to ‘bounce around’ as contact tracers work to stay on top of the virus’ spread.
However, she ominously said she would use tougher restrictions should the case rate continue to remain stubbornly high, she would impose tighter restrictions.
“If Kerry Chant says we need to introduce to reduce mobility that is what we will do,’ she said.
But with the daily average increasing by about 10 each day over the last week alone, it’s clear to see that authorities are struggling to keep up.
A graph of all the new cases over the past week and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still on the rise
Sydney’s outbreak of the Delta Covid strain is not yet under control despite three weeks of lockdown and daily cases dropping under 100. Pictured: People exercising in Rushcutters Bay
It’s unlikely Ms Berejiklian and chief health officer Kerry Chant will even consider easing Sydney’s lockdown until these figures stabilise and drop. Pictured: Police issuing fines in Bondi
It’s unlikely Ms Berejiklian and chief health officer Kerry Chant will even consider easing Sydney’s lockdown until these figures stabilise and drop.
Sydney has been in lockdown for three weeks and the premier has already announced a two-week extension – but there are concerns stay-at-home orders will remain in place well beyond the expected date.
On Friday, New South Wales recorded a further 97 cases with 29 in the community for their entire infectious period.
Ms Berejiklian said that critical second number needs to be as close to zero as possible in order for the lockdown to end.
While the number is still below this week’s peak, which occurred on Monday, Ms Berejiklian still expressed concerns that contact tracers still weren’t on top of the outbreak.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly said numbers will continue to ‘bounce around’ as contact tracers work to stay on top of the virus’ spread
More than 77,000 people got tested for Covid overnight. The key to ending lockdown is still vaccination. Pictured: A vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney has been in lockdown for three weeks and the premier has already announced a two-week extension. Sydneysiders are free to leave their homes to exercise in pairs
The vast majority of cases on Friday were in the Fairfield council area, in the city’s south west.
New South Wales has now recorded 1,026 Covid cases since the state’s latest outbreak began on June 16.
Less than a week ago on July 10, the daily average was 32.5 new cases.
But in just six days, that number has more than doubled to 83.8 new cases by Friday. Average cases appear to be trending up by about 10 each day.
Dr Chant said on Friday she is ‘not pleased’ that transmission of the virus ‘appears to be ongoing’.
‘We need to disrupt the cycle, our mobility and other interactions,’ she said.
Ms Berejiklian has vowed to impose tougher restrictions on Sydneysiders if Dr Chant recommends doing so.
Sydneysiders are free to leave their homes to exercise. Pictured: A woman stretching on Bondi Beach
The vast majority of cases on Friday were in the Fairfield council area, in the city’s south west
The Delta variant of the virus shows no signs of abating in Sydney and case numbers will continue to rise for at least a few days, according to experts
‘Please know that every time Dr Chant gives us proposals, we act within hours as we did,’ she said.
‘We will take whatever decision is required to have this lockdown go for as short shorter period as possible.’
Professor Emma McBryde, a disease modeller at James Cook University, said Sydney’s best case scenario is the lockdown will lift in about three to four weeks’ time – probably the latter.
Prof. McBryde said the Delta variant of the virus shows no signs of abating in Sydney and case numbers will continue to rise for at least a few days.
Sydney’s outbreak of the Delta Covid strain is not yet under control despite three weeks of lockdown and daily cases dropping under 100
There have been complaints that Sydney’s lockdown is too lax
The Burnet Institute’s Professor Mark Stoové has warned there was a two week lag between Victoria introducing harsh Stage Four restrictions and case numbers finally falling. Pictured: A man exercising in Rushcutters Bay
Authorities will then have to determine when the virus has peaked ‘and then you have to start chasing those numbers down to zero’.
‘Probably four weeks from now, would be a minimum,’ she said – or about August 9. Even then, the restrictions will ease only slowly.
The Burnet Institute’s Professor Mark Stoové has warned there was a two week lag between Victoria introducing harsh Stage Four restrictions and case numbers finally falling.
Melbourne’s strict lockdown successfully brought the virus to heel but went further than Sydney’s current suite of restrictions.
Melbourne’s strict lockdown successfully brought the virus to heel but went further than Sydney’s current suite of restrictions
Sydneysiders are allowed to travel up to 10km for essential exercise