Cops are called to medical centre in Sydney's Covid-hit southwest because people waiting for virus tests and vaccinations aren't social distancing
- Groups of Fairfield residents were seen outside the St Joseph's Medical Centre
- Some residents were seen failing to socially distance while waiting on the street
- Police were called in to ensure the groups were following the health orders
- Fairfield is one of Sydney's major Covid hotspots with 105 cases being recorded
Alarming photos have captured a group of Sydneysiders failing to socially distance while standing outside a medical centre in one of the city's most Covid-struck areas.
Crowds of masked residents were seen outside the St Joseph's Medical Centre in Fairfield, in the city's southwest, on Tuesday while waiting for Covid-19 tests and vaccinations.
A large group of locals were seen spilling down the sidewalk in close proximity to one another while healthcare workers in PPE spoke to those waiting in line.
Police officers eventually arrived to break up the queue of residents and ensure those waiting outside the medical centre were keeping their distance.
'Police are conducting an operation to ensure compliance with the current Public Health Orders in the Fairfield area,' a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Crowds of masked residents were seen outside the St Joseph's Medical Centre in Fairfield, in the city's west on Tuesday while waiting for Covid-19 tests and vaccinations
Fairfield residents are seen outside the centre while awaiting Covid tests and vaccinations
A large crowd of people are seen waiting outside the medical centre in Fairfield
Police officers eventually arrived to break up the queue of residents and ensure those waiting outside the medical centre were keeping their distance
Fairfield is at the centre of the latest outbreak with more than 100 cases being recorded in the past four weeks.
Concerningly, the suburb also has the lowest testing rate with just 93 tests per 1,000 residents which could mean many cases are going undiagnosed and be spreading to family and passersby.
Nearby Canterbury-Bankstown, despite 73 cases, has just 126 tests per 1,000 people. Liverpool has 37 cases and only 112 tests per 1,000 people.
Both are well below the Sydney LGA average of 195 tests per 1,000 residents.
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With more infections popping up in the city's west, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced workers who live in the Fairfield local government area must get tested for the virus every three days if they are leaving the area for work.
A closer look at the demographics shows Fairfield has a slightly lower median age of 36, compared with 38 in the rest of Australia.
Police are seen speaking to health care workers at the St Joseph's Medical Centre in Fairfield on Tuesday
Fairfield is at the centre of the latest outbreak with more than 100 cases being recorded in the past four weeks
A healthcare worker in PPE is seen speaking to those waiting for Covid-19 tests and vaccinations
Those in Fairfield are also more likely to live with more people, have more children and are less likely to have office jobs.
The average house size of 3.3 people is much bigger than the national average of 2.6 but many more homes in this part of Sydney typically have five people living under one roof.
A total of 89 new cases were recorded across NSW on Tuesday as Greater Sydney remains locked down with the premier warning cases will need to reach zero before restrictions are lifted.
The medical centre was inundated with patients on Tuesday
