The Project stars SLAM Sydney's leaders for letting Covid 'loose on the whole state' as outback town is plunged into lockdown – and explain why the Walgett outbreak could spell disaster
- Hosts of the project slam Sydney's lockdown as Covid leaks into state's west
- Walgett Shire and seven other LGAs were ordered into lockdown on Wednesday
- The remote region is home to vulnerable populations with low vaccination rates
Stars of The Project have slammed Sydney's Covid lockdown after it was revealed the virus has now spread into vulnerable communities across the New South Wales' far west.
A snap seven-day lockdown was ordered at 7pm on Wednesday for the Walgett Shire and seven other Local Government Areas including Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, and Warren.
The stay-at-home restrictions were imposed on the far-flung outback communities after a local man, who also visited Dubbo and Bathurst, tested positive to Covid.
Hosts of the Channel Ten show described the situation as 'terrifying' as there are low vaccination rates in the remote regions, a lack of health services and a significant population of vulnerable Indigenous Australians.
A snap seven-day lockdown was ordered at 7pm on Wednesday for the Walgett Shire and seven other Local Government Areas including Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, and Warren
Stars of The Project have slammed Sydney's inept Covid lockdown after it was revealed the virus has now spread into vulnerable communities across the New South Wales' far west (pictured, Covid testing clinic in Sydney's Yagoona)
'It has gone up into Dubbo and now into the remote communities,' commentator Steve Price said, as NSW recorded two more deaths and a further 344 locally-acquired infections on Wednesday.
'They don't have the health services out there that can cope with an outbreak of Covid.
'So, the idea that you could put a ring of steel around Sydney and keep it there, that's gone.
'It is now loose in the whole state.
'And guess what? Out there, not many are vaccinated in far western NSW.'
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Host Waleed Aly pointed out the region has a 'significant Indigenous population' who are especially vulnerable to the devastating respiratory illness.
'We have been talking about the dangers that this poses to Indigenous Australians because they are at higher risk,' Aly said.
'And people around the state in those remote areas are now expressing anger at the way the NSW government hasn't protected them.'
'The idea that you could put a ring of steel around Sydney and keep it there, that's gone. It is now loose in the whole state,' Steve Price said
The man, who is believed to have been infectious since August 5, was tested for the virus on Saturday, August August 7 before returning a positive result on Wednesday, August 11
Hosts of the Channel Ten show described the situation as 'terrifying' as there are low vaccination rates in the remote regions, a lack of health services and a significant population of vulnerable Indigenous Australians
TV presenter Rachel Corbett said the alarming development has left many people across the state very worried, as she slammed the length of time it's taking NSW Health to return the results of Covid tests.
'I think everybody in NSW is so frustrated because… we're all doing the right thing and it's still getting out,' she said.
'For a lot of people going for a test and waiting, it is not just an inconvenience. We see a lot of the disease spreading because people have to put food on the table. They can't take time off.
'For some people, it's stressful and now that it's getting out into the regions… there is not the support out there. It is terrifying.'
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan launched a scathing attack on his NSW counterpart and accused her of not having 'the backbone to do what is required' to suppress her state's outbreak
The 344 new locally-acquired cases came as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned more LGAs in Sydney's south and inner-west could face tighter lockdown measures
The lockdown restrictions will apply to residents in the eight LGAs of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren
The Project wasn't the only one to take a swipe at the NSW's government's handling of the latest coronavirus outbreak with Mark McGowan calling the state's leadership spineless.
The Western Australian Premier accused NSW of risking the lives of all Australians by 'recklessly' choosing to vaccinate its way out of Sydney's Covid outbreak.
Mr McGowan - who advocates a 'zero Covid' approach to outbreaks - launched the scathing attack on his NSW counterpart, Gladys Berejiklian, after she flagged easing parts of the city's lockdown once the vaccination rate reaches 50 per cent.
'By allowing the virus to run rampant throughout NSW, they're risking the lives of their citizens and they're risking everyone else,' he said in a press conference on Wednesday.
'I do not understand why they're not prepared [for the outbreak] and they don't have the backbone to do what is required.'
