New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has suggested the state government allow venues to deny entry to those who refuse to take the CCP virus vaccine.
Berejiklian raised the possibility of barring those who decline the vaccine from government-run buildings, as well as permitting private venues to take similar measures.
She said she wants people to start thinking about how they feel about receiving the vaccine for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.
“I don’t ever like to force anybody to do anything,” Berejiklian told 2GB radio. “But we’d like there to be an incentive system where people are encouraged to have it because it means they can do all these things they may have otherwise not been able to do.”
A group of friends dine at Yama Gardens in Darlinghurst on May 15, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
As the planned February rollout of the vaccine nears, the NSW government is considering a data-sharing partnership with the federal government to help residents prove they have been immunised.
Berejiklian has previously suggested the Service NSW smartphone app could show a tick when a person is vaccinated, enabling venue entry.
“The more people that are vaccinated, the greater likelihood we can have a return to normality as we know it,“ Berejiklian said. ”Already airlines have indicated that if you’re not vaccinated you can’t travel overseas and I think that'll be an incentive to a lot of people.
“But we'll also consider whether we allow venues ... make up their own rules if they have a business or run a workplace about what they feel is COVID-safe,” she said.
NSW recorded zero new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Jan. 17, as well as eight cases in hotel quarantine.
However, the tally came from fewer than 9,000 tests, prompting NSW Health’s Dr. Jeremy McAnulty to urge more to get tested.
Berejiklian said that only a high testing rate would lead to the possibility of easing restrictions on Greater Sydney this week.
“The drop in daily testing numbers is of concern, and NSW Health renews its calls for people to get tested if they are experiencing even the mildest of symptoms,” McAnulty said in a statement on Monday. "The best thing we can do for our friends and family is to get tested.”
There are currently zero new locally acquired cases and eight new cases in hotel quarantine. The state also has one case in intensive care.
