The lockdown has only been slightly wound back

AMA (NSW) President, Dr Kean-Seng Lim, says residents of NSW should be proud of how well the coronavirus curve has been flattened but at the same time be mindful it’s not over yet.

“NSW and Australia more broadly have done really well to contain coronavirus infections as much we have.

“It’s a credit to our Federal and State Governments, our health system, our health workers, and everyone who has been adhering to the lockdown measures.

“And even though those rules are being wound back, it’s only slightly, and we don’t want to see a situation where we get so overconfident that we see a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases again.

“We have minimised the risks of the coronavirus just about as well as anyone’s been able to in the world but it is still a threat and all our hard work could yet be undone.

“It is still very contagious and this is not a battle against an adversary that you can really beat at the moment.

“What we are trying to do is create and maintain a level of acceptable risk, which is the best-case scenario when there is no treatment or vaccine.

“So, please, continue to observe physical distancing and make sure you are adhering to the rules, even though they have been relaxed.

“The campaign to contain COVID-19’s spread is an ongoing one and it will be for the foreseeable future.

 “Premier Gladys Berejiklian is right to have told people earlier this week that the relaxation of the lockdown rules may themselves be wound back if we see a rapid rise in infections again.

“So, please, enjoy the fruits of all of our labour but don’t get cocky.

“It’s important that we keep that curve flattened – we’ve all seen what’s happened elsewhere when coronavirus gets out of control and we don’t want that to happen here.

“We’ve also seen what’s happened in some countries where initial success was followed by a resurgence in cases and we don’t want to see that in NSW either,” Dr Lim said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955