Australia’s military will play an increasing role in the nation’s enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions.
NSW reported a record 466 new cases on Saturday, along with news of an additional 500 Australian Defence Force personnel hitting the streets next week.
“From Monday there will be 500 extra ADF officers on the ground following a request by NSW,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
Defence personnel have already been assigned to NSW and Victoria to assist police with enforcement duties.
In NSW, where the majority of people remain under stay-at-home orders, the additional troops – who will join 300 already in place – will be part of an enhanced random checkpoint system to restrict movement among the community.
Scott Morrison joined the call for Australians to do right by their neighbours and abide by restrictions.
The prime minister and premiers on Friday discussed concerns about the Sydney outbreak, which has now seeded Delta outbreaks in regional NSW and other states and territories.
“We saw the cases up in northern NSW where someone just doesn’t comply – look at the damage that causes,” he said.
“We’ve got to do the right thing by each other. We’ve got to do the right thing by our neighbours, our communities, our city, our country.
“You can do that by following the rules, staying at home, getting vaccinated and getting tested.”
As NSW recorded its highest number of new cases in a single day, Victoria posted 21 more cases, Queensland six and the ACT one.
The ACT is in lockdown until Thursday.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said targeted vaccination and compliance will drive numbers down.
“People need to have hope and patience.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has repeatedly urged Ms Berejiklian to erect a “ring of steel” around Sydney to stop the disease escaping the city.
NSW Police will step up enforcement measures from Monday.
“The movement particularly in greater Sydney was way too high from our perspective in terms of what we were trying to achieve,” Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Saturday.
Residents in a growing number of Sydney’s local government areas are subject to a 5km travel limit from homes and on-the-spot fines have been increased to several thousands of dollars to deter people from breaking the rules.
Governments have agreed to start easing restrictions from a vaccination rate of 70 per cent and all but end the need for lockdowns from 80 per cent.
AAP
