Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park is not against including all of NSW in lockdown.
New stay-at-home orders apply for all of regional NSW, effective from 5pm on Saturday until 12.01am Sunday, August 22.
It comes after NSW reported 466 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, with at least 60 of those people circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.
But the Keira MP was far from happy NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian didn't make this clear in her 11am press conference today.
Coalition MP Dave Layzell announced the new restrictions on his Facebook page before NSW Health put out its press release later Saturday afternoon.
"Essentially many communities only found out through social media, That's not the way these sorts of issues should be communicated in a pandemic," Mr Park said.
"Why would you leave out the fact that regional NSW is going to be a part of the lockdown provisions? I mean it just beggars belief in the middle of a pandemic like this, that the Premier thinks this is the way to communicate to the people of NSW.
"It's not, it adds confusion and it adds stress, and we are appealing to the Premier to stop this type of communication and messaging."
Following updated health advice from NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in regional NSW.
This means the whole of New South Wales will be under stay at home restrictions from 5pm today.
This new order will replace any existing orders in regional NSW.
"It is disappointing that the whole of NSW is now in lockdown," Mr Park said.
"We need to be doing everything possible, that means getting tested, booking those vaccination appointments and keeping up to date with the health advice.
"That is up to all of us.
"I will certainly be doing my best to communicate locally to the community about any changes but we need to make sure we are on top of this and stay up to date with that health advice."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
