'Gobsmacked' health experts accuse NSW of playing politics over COVID outbreak

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Health experts say a uniform response to COVID-19 outbreaks across Australia is 'critical' to protecting the nation, and that some states — including New South Wales — are allowing 'political factors' to influence their decisions on lockdowns.

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Health experts say Australia's states should have a uniform response to dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks and are accusing some jurisdictions — including New South Wales — of prioritising politics over health.Experts want a national code of practice and standardised approach to outbreaks and quarantineAMA vice president Chris Moy says political factors have influenced NSW's outbreak strategy

"We've been bewildered and gobsmacked by the response in NSW, which has been clearly two or three steps behind in terms of reducing restrictions to allow their contact tracers to catch up," he said."The decision-makers have never pulled the levers hard enough … and now it's got away from them." But since Friday, residents in the eight Sydney local government areas of concern — Fairfield, Liverpool, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Blacktown Parramatta, Campbelltown, Georges River — have been restricted to exercising and shopping within a 5km radius.Epidemiologist and Professor of International Health at the Burnet Institute, Michael Toole, said the differing pandemic responses of various states was confusing and problematic.

"It should be quite a detailed plan covering all the interventions. What kind of social distancing, limits on how far people can travel, masks — should they be both outdoors and indoors — what is an essential service, and should all non-essential retail close," he said."That would be good for business, [they] would know, OK, we've got two cases today, five the next day, we go into lockdown.

But he said without unity — and a national centre for disease control — Australia was losing its fight against COVID-19.

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FINALLY! Someone talking sense and taking a national response.

This assumes the medical profession “knows” the best approach. They don’t even “know” all there is to know within their supposed area of expertise: ex A Az farcical variable advice

Well, duh! Who hasn't realized it hasn't been politically influenced, with the worst response from a Liberal State govnt! thanksScuMo

Lol.. AMA, which didn't want pharmacists in the vaccine rollout, and that Toole fellow.

Every state has done this... It is not unique to NSW.

More ABC love for doomsday and helping ALP premiers

Canberra is too,,,Como is all about vaxx number as there is an election coming up, as for albasleazy I wouldn’t vote for him either, maybe Pauline Hanson

Lets not play politics and have a national approach as long as its OUR way. StayAtHome approach was rolled out to GreaterSydney but there is stark contrast in NSW with highest Covid infections mainly in Labor held seats. Why arent Labor members urging constituents adhere to rules

A uniform response can't be spearheaded by Morrison or his lackeys since they were clearly in the camp of go soft. Prioritising optics over public safety, criticising other states for proper responses to a deadly pandemic, and of course their role in the vaccine rollout debacle

NSW had been playing politics from day 1. Do you remember when there was a shortage of masks and the idiot that came out and said you don’t need masks, and you cold do more harm than good. And they even through that early on in COVID training modules early on. DikcHeads!

differing pandemic responses of various states was confusing and problematic.

over time that framework had 'broken down' and Australian jurisdictions were now responding to COVID-19 outbreaks separately Premiers are becoming more arrogant yelling like dogs Barking new laws new restriction Americans wont put up so much crap

The Politic in this entire situation starts with the Media especially the Biased ABC News. All State Premiers are hunting popularity and ego trips. Not one of any are Promoting 'We Are All In This Together ' So much Hypocrisy and pub/bar politics all round.

Politicised mainly by this guy and his cronies...

Agree with AMA: “But he said without unity — and a national centre for disease control — Australia was losing its fight against COVID-19.” In times of pandemic, Australia should have just one, national policy on how to deal the situation, act as one nation, in solidarity

7 leaders are smashing COVID. 2 leaders are failing spectacularly. Do we think handing full responsibility of COVID to Fed Gov is wise given their history of lies, corruption and sheer f**kery of crises? Should Fed Gov take control of COVID?Yes! Will they do a good job? HELL NO!

Covid19NSW Citizens are gobsmacked too. It's a textbook case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Ambiguous, arrogant, audacious…you could go through the whole alphabet describing the wag the dog politics on display in NSW. Everything to see there, another part of the ‘black and white failure’.

SylviaAPetter The free world is gobsmacked at former democracy Australia treatment of strandedAussies. Millions arbitrarily detained indefinitely. Thousands exiled to die. failedState Stalin

Unlike Dan Andrews (whom the ABC must sponsor)… defund the ABC

Could not agree more with this. We need a united, scientific approach to this. Stop the stupid bickering and instead work together. State borders are simply imaginary lines that a virus will never recognise. Much more will be achieved by working together.

Politics over health - They suddenly realised this just now?

The accusation of 'playing with politics' is a common method of playing with politics.

LiberalAus AustralianLabor NON SPOTS (Covid19 free) Locations with perimeter control to stop any contagious people. Plus follow all current rules including distancing and cleaning rules. May include from fast testing to certified records of testing & vaccination.

Covid in NSW is the best thing for Australia. The sooner this zero covid fantasy ends, the better

I’m still gobsmacked by how many ppl died in Victoria. But hey, let’s get some more biased AMA folk to tell us what they think ABC, the same folk who held up letting pharmacies administer the vaccine.

Politics and public health. Oil and water. It's bleak.

NSW..........the look after your donation state?

“... Of the 964,920 doses available to NSW to week 25, the state had ordered 164,020 doses. Victoria has ordered 77 per cent, or 664,480 doses, of the AstraZeneca allotted to the state.”

‘He called on the federal government to use its authority to unite the states and territories.’ FAT CHANCE of that under this federal government covid shambles! So what’s plan B?

NSW simply following the ScoMo narrative.

How did we go from the WHO telling the world there was nothing to worry about to our health 'experts' demanding everyone get a vaccine. Who are these experts? I thought WHO were the experts.

Oh wow what a shock. That this pandemic has been used as a political point scoring. Last year Qld was saying we cant open our border to NSW till they have 28 days straight of no community transmission. Yet after the state election. 'We opening up to NSW. We are watching to see'

Some construction sites are restarting under strict rules

Oh well , a bit behind the times , territory leaders are doing that with internal boundary lines With Australians health at stake

Pretty sure the NSW CHO did not advocate shutting down construction sites which was the back tracked. GladysB has managed this mess so far - she carries the bag alone

100 percent but that's all she knows

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