I consider sitting in a restaurant, socially distanced tables with QR Code checkin to be far safer than going to Sydney Park at the moment.
Outside the 8 LGAs of concern it should be fine to go back to outdoor dining and 4sqm indoor rule come 28th August for any LGA with fewer than 5 active cases (which is vast majority of the state), especially so for the fully vaccinated.
I still consider park to be safer, I have a choice of 5 different parks within 5 mins walk of my door (one being the Bay Run which itself has multiple more parks on the 7km loop) and cant say Ive found them particularly crowded at all. Bay Run traffic is no worse than pre-covid, at least not at the times I use it. The park in my street was completely empty when I went for a walk today.
Indoor mask wearing costs nothing so it can stay and should also be mandated for all students in all grades from K-12, since they physical distance much much less than adults.
6 weeks into this “outbreak”; One single unavoidable death (assuming the person in question was ineligible for a vaccine). Curve is well and truly flat. Hospital system is not overrun. But what have the other costs been?
The non-covid related health costs have been (and will continue to be) huge in terms of mental health, missed routine health appointments and cancelled elective surgeries. I am desperate for the physio to reopen, video consults can not replace hands on manipulation. The actions to protect us from Covid health risks has created other health issues and that is before you consider the economic costs and the tax burden being placed on the under 50s for decades to come.
I think it is pathetic that as a fully vaccinated person I can not visit my fully vaccinated parents. My Mums early dementure has worsened due to lack of interaction with anyone other than my Dad for past 6 weeks. The people who have been doing the wrong thing and thereby extending this current outbreak are robbing me of very valuable time with her, so I have no issue with reporting the rule breakers to crime stoppers (or store management) and continuing to have stricter limits on the areas of concern until they reduce their numbers to more manageable levels.
Outside LGAs of concern - smaller number, but cases increasing.
Not everywhere, mostly in the west and south which border the 8 LGAs of concern. Dr Chant called out today that too many people from the 8 LGAs of concern have been shopping in neighbouring unrestricted LGAs because they are within 5km even though not allowed, more policing of the LGA outer boundaries is needed.
The good news is that there are 6 LGAs with no change and 9 (8 outside areas of concern plus Fairfield) where cases are reducing.
The assertion that NSW's lower % of positive is a result of less-targeted testing is odd, given in additon to the HQ and Health worker surveillance testing (done in many states), NSW is the only state doing targeted 3 day essential worker testing to leave restricted LGAs.
A friend who works in an essential industry inside a restricted LGA (who lives outside it) gets tested twice a week at her work place, her employer has enured private pathology are onsite for 4 shifts a week (two monring, two afternoon) to ensure all workers which includes a large number of drivers are tested per the 3 day regime.