The NSW premier has apologised to families forced to watch on from a distance while their loved ones died in hospital, promising a change of policy on COVID-19 visiting rules.
The restrictions on visitors are being reviewed after a backlash from grieving relatives.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said he’d spoken to Sydney woman Gayle Roberts who was made to wait in a hospital car park for five hours while her mother died alone inside Campbelltown Hospital.
“I had tears in my eyes hearing the stories,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“Gayle said to me on the weekend, this will be with her forever.
“I’m incredibly sorry on behalf of the state.”
Mr Perrottet said the rules have to strike a “difficult balance” between limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the hospital system and making sure family support is available to those gravely ill and dying.
In some hospitals there had been major outbreaks of the virus which had led to more deaths.
“I know we need to be cautious, but my view is compassion overrides caution in these instances,” Mr Perrottet said.
“My expectation is that you’ll see an announcement very shortly.”
While the number of COVID-19 infections recorded across the state have peaked and fallen, the number of people dying with the virus remains stubbornly high.
Twenty new deaths were reported on Wednesday, as well as 10,312 new cases.
Eight people that died had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, nine people had received two doses, and three people were not vaccinated.
Some 1906 people remain in hospital with the virus, with 132 in intensive care of which 61 are ventilated.
More than 1600 people have died in NSW from COVID-19 and more than a million have contracted the virus.
Meanwhile small businesses in NSW can now apply for rebates of up to $1000 to make their workplaces more COVID-safe.
The Small Business Rebate Program, which has been in operation since 2012, was previously capped at $500 per application.
Projects that may be eligible include setting up hand sanitiser stations or sneeze/cough guards.
Twenty new deaths were reported on Wednesday, as well as 10,312 new cases.
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