Berejiklian lobbies for NSW quarantine staff to get vaccine first, foreshadows venue limits easing
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants NSW’s quarantine workers at the front of the queue for the national COVID vaccine rollout, arguing the state carries the greatest burden of the virus by accepting the lion’s share of returning overseas travellers.
NSW recorded its 17th consecutive day of zero community acquired cases on Wednesday, prompting Ms Berejiklian to foreshadow a further easing of venue capacity restrictions next week.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at a press conference on Wednesday.Credit:Kate Geraghty
Asked about the vaccine rollout at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Ms Berejiklian said if NSW was to continue managing the most risk of coronavirus transmission, its quarantine workers should be some of the first in line for the vaccine.
“Obviously, it’s a national rollout and every citizen has the right, you know, according to their category to be treated respectfully and equally ... all I’m saying is if some states are bringing in more Australians than others, obviously that carries risk with it, and we’ve always borne that risk,” she said.
“We know that whenever there’s been an outbreak it’s been linked to the quarantine system, so it stands to reason that they would be the category of person that you would look at providing the vaccine first and foremost.
“It’s not about New South Wales beating other states it’s just about making sure that the risk is borne by people in those occupations, and that frontline is considered as part of the rollout faster,” she said.
Restrictions on venues will revert to the two-square-metre rule from Friday week “unless something very unexpected occurs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The change would mean cafes, pubs and restaurants would be allowed to have one person per two square metres in them instead of one per four square metres, enabling the doubling of occupancy.
Masks will continue to be mandatory on all public transport, and strongly recommended in all public indoor spaces where people cannot socially distance.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were two cases detected in overseas returnees in quarantine and a total of 11,816 tests performed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night.
Regarding the vaccine rollout, Ms Berejiklian said the state government was waiting on information from the federal government.
“We look forward to getting that information,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The federal government always anticipated the rollout [would be] February/March, and obviously our health experts are already in negotiations and discussions, and as soon as we have something concrete to convey to the community we will.
“But I do want to stress that the policy around the vaccine rollout is a response to the federal government and of course we’re here to support that in any way we can,” she said.
“When it is my turn I will make sure I will get the vaccine,” she said.
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Kate Aubusson is Health Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.
Lucy Cormack is a state political reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.