Police descended on south-west Sydney today to enforce COVID-19 public health orders, as the State Government threw the spotlight on the largely poor and culturally and linguistically diverse suburbs of Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield. This, despite the origins of the latest outbreak emanating from the wealthy, mostly white, eastern suburbs.
The NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, announced record case numbers across Sydney - not just in the south-west - including record hospitalisations and record ICU cases, as the Delta strain runs rampant. Those on ventilators were also at record numbers. As a result, further restrictions were announced, with some critical of the government’s slow response to lockdown measures. The lockdown is expected to be extended beyond next week.
In Bankstown and Liverpool, small groups of police roamed the streets. There were reports of fines meted out, mostly for mask transgressions, as well as police on horseback in both suburbs. I spoke with some community members, many of whom saw the heavy-handedness of the crackdown as being racially motivated.
Despite this, a strong community spirit was evident. Streets were largely deserted, suggesting that the stay-at-home orders were being observed. Nearly everyone sighted was wearing masks. Community workers handed out free face masks to the public. Some small family businesses, however, were suffering as a result of the lockdown. Ali, from Valley View Continental Spices and Groceries in Bankstown, told me how he was close to shutting up shop, but agreed the the lockdown was necessary. Shuttered premises with ‘For Lease’ signs littered the main streets of both Bankstown and Liverpool, evidence that some businesses have already fallen victim to the virus.
Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.
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