We thought that the era of Gladys Berejiklian having serious sway over our social lives might end with 2020, but it hasn't been the case so far. The NSW premier has today announced that certain restrictions in place in the Greater Sydney area may be eased as early next week, as Sydney records its second day without any new locally transmitted cases and a week of low numbers.
The premier flagged examples of restrictions that could be rolled back next week, including changes to caps on the number of people allowed in a home, caps on weddings and funerals, and when people should be wearing a mask. This, naturally, will depend on two factors – low case numbers and higher testing rates.
"I do want to say to the community of New South Wales in particular, to Greater Sydney, that we are very much, in the next few days, considering what restrictions we can ease," she said. "Now that will depend on obviously having low case numbers and also having higher rates of testing. So we are really pleading with the community, please come forward and get tested if you have the mildest of symptoms." Here is a list of where to get tested in Sydney.
Earlier in the week, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant noted that the "mopping up" period following the latest breakouts around Sydney, including the recent Berala cluster in the west of the city, could take three to four more weeks.