NSW‘s top doctor wanted tough new restrictions to be imposed in January as Omicron cases skyrocketed, but her health advice was mostly ignored by the government.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant wrote to Health Minister Brad Hazzard on January 3 to urge the government to tighten Covid-19 rules in pubs, homes, hospitals and large indoor events.
The government agreed to implement one of the changes – banning singing and dancing – but disregarded other parts of the advice.
Dr Chant wrote in the email that hospitality venues were generally associated with significant virus transmission events.
“Household gatherings have also been a key driver of transmission,” she wrote in the email. which was titled “advice for minister” and recently obtained by the NSW Labor Party.
Dr Chant wenxjmtzywt on to note young people were being infected the most and said the spread of the virus should be slowed to allow booster vaccination rates to rise and critical services to be protected.
“The following recommendations are made for statewide implementation,” she continued.
“Density restrictions in hospitality to (1 person per 4 sqm), seated alcohol, no singing or dancing, household gatherings limit to 10, indoor large events with capacity limits and strengthened Covid safety plans.”
Dr Chant also noted Tamworth Country Music Festival, which was scheduled to happen in mid-January, would risk becoming “a series of Omicron super-spreading events” and pose a big risk because of the older and rural demographic expected to attend.
“The festival draws a demographic (large numbers of older people) at higher risk of severe disease from all over rural NSW,” she wrote.
However she stopped short of directly recommending the festival be cancelled.
Premier Dominic Perrottet followed through on some of the top doctor's recommendations.
Four days after the email was sent Mr Perrottet announced singing and dancing would be banned at pubs, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues for 20 days.
Other parts of Dr Chant‘s health advice were included as recommendations rather than rules.
“The government is continuing to encourage people to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of contracting Covid-19,” a briefing sent to reporters on January 7 said.
“People are asked to continue to use common sense in limiting large household gatherings and gather outdoors where possible, and the government also recommends people stay seated when drinking in hospitality venues.”
“These adjustments will allow us to continue to live with Covid and manage the pandemic in a measured and considered way,” Mr Perrottet said in the media release.
The release also said NSW Health would assess the risks of individual major events.
The same day the rules changed the Tamworth Country Music Festivals pulled the plug on the event, saying the virus transmission rate and new rules made it necessary to postpone it.
Other festivals were postponed as well.
Mr Perrottet has argued since he took over the premiership in October last year his pandemic management is based on a range of different input, including both health advice and economic advice.
His predecessor as premier, Gladys Berejiklian, frequently told the public she based her pandemic decisions on health advice, although other internal NSW Health emails have previously shown that wasn’t always true.
A spokesman for Mr Perrottet said on Thursday he wouldn’t comment on advice provided to cabinet, but went on to say the government considers a number of different types of advice when making pandemic decisions.
“The NSW government has always balanced the health and economic outcomes in its response to the pandemic. We have led the nation in navigating the challenges of the pandemic,” the spokesman said.
“Our number one priority is keeping our people safe and ensuring our world-leading health system remains strong to provide care to those when they need it.
“The NSW government has adapted and will continue to adapt its response to the pandemic as needed depending on the circumstances we face, taking into account advice regarding impacts on a range of matters, including our health system, the mental health of the community and the economy.”
“Vaccination and now boosters are key to keeping people safe, protecting our health system, and keeping society open as we navigate living with Covid.”
Labor’s health spokesman Ryan Park said the Premier’s response to the advice had negatively impacted the state’s health system and economy.
“The Premier’s decision to essentially ignore the health advice coming from the experts has had devastating impacts on our community both in terms of our health system and the economy,” Mr Park said.
“The Premier thought he could outsmart a global pandemic, unfortunately for the people of NSW that didn’t happen and we had summer that was devastating both on jobs and the economy as well as our health and hospital system.”
