COVID UPDATE – SAT – 50 NEW CASES – “THINGS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER” – PREMIER

“We need everyone to stay hunkered down this weekend and stay in your household,” says Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, as 50 new cases across Sydney reported with 26 of those infectious in the community.

“Your loved ones and the ones you care about most are the ones going to be impacted if you don’t follow the health advice,” said Dr Chant.

“Things are going to get worse before they get better,” said Premier Gladys Berejiklian just now – 11am Saturday.

Worryingly, 16 people, including a teen, are in Intensive Care. There is also a 20-year-old, a 30-year-old and a 40-year-old, in ICU, three in their 50s, with the others in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

In total 47 people are in hospital with Covid in Sydney.

So far there are no reported venues of concern or cases in the Hawkesbury.

“If you truly love your parents, your sisters, your best friends, please stick to the rules,” says the Premier.

“Twenty-six of those [reported with Covid] were infectious in the community – that is the number we need to get down to close as zero as possible,” said the Premier.

Now, just a clarification on Police powers if they stop you when you are out and about on your way to exercise within 10 mins of your home, or for any other reason.

It does say on the NSW government restrictions and exemptions website that you need to carry ID with you and need to present it to Police if asked. At this morning’s media conference, Dep Comm Warboys said you do not have to have ID on you – so some confusion there. So we asked NSW Police what the score was and they told us this….

“A person does not necessarily have to carry their driver’s licence or photo ID while exercising, but they must be able to prove they are who they are and where they live.

“Police will be able to use information to positively identify them, and anyone caught breaching the Public Health Orders or providing false information will be dealt with appropriately.”

The Dep Comm said at the conference: “But I will go back to my other point where police are investigators. So if someone provides details, regardless of whether they have a phone, driver’s licence or some other card, and police are uncertain or unsure, they will make further inquiries, and of course they can issue that personal infringement notice at any time.”

Hope that makes it clearer!

If you are already a Hawkesbury Post supporter, thank you! Our site is free, relying on our supporters to operate. Independent journalism is more important than ever, please consider contributing.

Click here to see how

Don’t pay so you can read it. Pay so everybody can read it!