THE NSW Government hoped to release regional areas from lockdown on a “case-by-case basis” from August 30, Deputy Premier John Barilaro told media on Friday.
“Fingers crossed, I’m able to lift all the restrictions in regional and rural NSW and only keep those small number of (local government areas) locked down that are of concern to give everybody freedom across the rest of the state,” Mr Barilaro said.
“If things deteriorate we’ll reassess, but right now, with the information in front of me, I’m still confident,” he said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant would make a decision for each LGA based on whether there were positive coronavirus cases, virus fragments detected in sewage or other risk factors, he said.
“Dr Kerry Chant will be making judgment calls on all of that. Now, knowing Kerry, she’s more conservative than probably I am. And she’d rather keep something locked up.”
He said children in LGAs released from lockdown would be allowed to return to school and community sport would return to pre-lockdown restriction arrangements.
“When we lift those restrictions, kids will be able, as part of that, to return to school.
Regarding community sport, he said there would “still be caps”.
“We’ll only go back to what what the restrictions were pre the lockdown.”
“The regions are very, very different because of because of the vast geographic area that we cover, and you’ve got less density and population.”
