Parra News August 17 2021

LOCAL NEWS
Please don’t leave home
Premier’s desperate plea as COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket
NICOLA BARTON
Merrylands, Guildford, and
Auburn have been labelled
as areas of “most concern” by
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, as the
state’s number of COVID cases continues
to reach record highs.
Ms Berejiklian sent a stern message to
residents – get vaccinated and don’t leave
your home “unless you absolutely have to”.
“Please know that if you are in these
areas you must not only take extra precautions
but make sure you come forward for
testing and stay home,” she said.
“These suburbs are of most concern in
the entire state.”
A state-wide lockdown was announced
over the weekend, aimed at minimising
movement to protect regional communities
from the escalating Greater Sydney
outbreak.
With vaccination seemingly the only
way out, Cumberland City Mayor Steve
Christou is urging residents to put their
arms out in August.
“I want to see our Local Government
Area have the highest vaccination rate in
A concerned NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at a recent press conference.
the state. I want us to be the first area in
NSW so we can regain our freedoms,” he
said.
“We’re still waiting for the State Government
to accept our offer of vaccination
clinics in our facilities to speed the roll-out
of the vaccine.”
Cr Christou criticised the bungled
vaccine roll-out and outbreak response,
stating he feels there’s “no end in sight”.
“The response of the government and
enforcement of these draconian lockdowns
has been completely ineffective,
slow, and callous,” he said.
“Families have been destroyed financially.
The mental health of our residents
is now a real concern.”
The Federal Government announced
Australia will receive one million doses
of Pfizer, 530,000 of which are set to be
prioritised for young people (20-39-yearolds)
in the hardest hit regions of Greater
Sydney.
Walk-in vaccination clinics offering
AstraZeneca locally include the Holroyd
Centre (Waratah Room), Merrylands; the
Greystanes Community Centre, Merrylands;
Ted Burge Hall, Merrylands; Allan
G Ezzy Community Centre, Pemulwuy;
and the Guildford Community Centre,
Guildford.
The community is reminded that
under the current restrictions, residents
in both Cumberland and Parramatta
Local Government Areas must not leave
their suburb, including for work, unless
declared essential by the State Government’s
health orders. Increased fines are
now in play
parra news » Tuesday, August 17, 2021
AN IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR BUSINESS
Only essential businesses
should now be open
Until 28 August, businesses that are non-essential are required to close to the public and operate online or through
click and collect only if they can. If you're an essential business such as supermarkets, medical services and
takeaway food, make sure you follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines which include:
> Using the NSW Government QR Code for checking in
and out all customers, staff, contractors and visitors
> Ensuring unwell staff are not at work, get tested immediately
and stay home until they return a negative test result
> Wearing a face mask when working indoors
and outdoors
> 1.5m physical distancing where possible
> Good hand hygiene and regular surface cleaning
Financial grants to help those impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions are available to eligible businesses.
PN45690
For free, personalised support to help your business
be COVID Safe, visit nsw.gov.au or call 13 77 88
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