“Communities need support to pick up the COVID pieces” – Mayor
Published on 23 December 2021
Burwood Mayor John Faker has today commended the NSW Government for making the common sense decision to reintroduce key public health restrictions, but cautioned that NSW could still sleepwalk into a COVID nightmare if support isn’t given to testing sites and local communities over summer.
In the face of continually escalating COVID cases with new records set daily, the Mayor last week called on the Government to mandate masks indoors and bring back QR codes as a sensible first step to curb the spread of Omicron while experts battle to understand its effects.
“I believe the Premier made a mistake by easing restrictions without a concrete plan on what would happen if there was a huge increase in cases, but I am delighted he has finally listened to reason,” Cr Faker said.
“We can see the results of the poorly conceived re-opening with testing sites right across Sydney simply being unable to cope in the lead in to Christmas. Like many other councils we organised testing sites for our community but the clinics are being overwhelmed.
“The frontline health staff are doing an absolutely fantastic job in very trying circumstances, but there needs to be extended hours and more testing sites so people can get tested. No one wants to see a clinic worker collapsing in the heat so we would love to see clinics open up later into the evening too.”
The Mayor is also pleased that there is a renewed push from the Government to obtain more rapid antigen testing kits but said the shortage and limited availability is having an impact in the local community.
“Not everyone who wants a test can get a test right now and that is adding to the strain on clinics. If these kits can be more accessible then we can work to ease the crowding and traffic problems local communities are currently experiencing,” Cr Faker said.
The Mayor believes that NSW Health needs to plan for an increased demand for booster jabs, and that councils need to be involved in that conversation.
“Boosters are likely to become extremely important as we learn more about Omicron. We had an extremely successful pop-up clinic that allowed our residents to get vaccinated and we’re grateful for the Government support that meant this was possible,” Cr Faker said.
“But as more people queue up for a third jab we need to have the facilities to cope with that. Those talks need to happen now about how we can work together to provide the vaccination program at local venues or at the larger State run hubs which have previously been a wonderful asset in the fight against COVID.”