'I am far from perfect': Berejiklian concedes COVID-19 test mistake
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she deeply regrets failing to isolate while awaiting the results of her COVID-19 test and hopes people learn from her mistake.
A day after confirming she did not change her schedule and even voted on the floor of Parliament while waiting for her results, Ms Berejiklian on Wednesday admitted she did the wrong thing.
"I deeply regret that I didn't do what I should have done ... every time you decide to take a test you must self isolate," she said.
Gladys Berejiklian says she deeply regrets not isolating after her COVID-19 test.
Ms Berejiklian had a COVID-19 swab last Tuesday on budget day in anticipation of questions about her hoarse voice. Overseas research has identified hoarseness as a COVID-19 symptom.
The test was done after question time, where she told the Parliament she was "losing her voice", and she had people in her office and voted in the chamber in the two hours she waited for the results.
Vision of the lower house show her bumping elbows with a colleague as she entered the chamber.
On Monday, she said she "should have closed the door to my office" instead of going about her usual activities.
NSW Health's guidelines say: "You cannot go to work, school, childcare, university, recreation facilities, public areas, or go shopping" after having the test.
"I accept that I absolutely should have followed the guidelines and I accept that," Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
"None of us, whether it's myself or anybody else can afford to be complacent. And I just say to everybody, take my example as one where we all have to stick to the rules to keep us on the path."
Ms Berejiklian stressed the test was precautionary and not required under NSW Health guidelines.
But the Premier admitted she did not go into self-isolation while awaiting her result, a breach of the health advice which she has been regularly urging people to follow throughout the pandemic.
Ms Berejiklian said her actions were an example that it was "so easy to let our guard down".
"I am far from perfect and I wish I could say on every single occasion I have [maintained social distancing]," she said.
The NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant would not be drawn on Ms Berejiklian's breach, saying she had always refrained from commenting on individual cases during the pandemic.
"I think it is really important that the messages that come across are that at the moment we are asking anyone with any symptom, however minimal, to come forward for testing," Dr Chant said.
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay said Ms Berejiklian put the whole chamber at risk by attending a vote while not knowing whether she had coronavirus.
Alexandra Smith is the State Political Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.