COVID-19 Diaries: WFH

A masked man walks home with a computer under his arm as the second lockdown in Sydney forces people to return to working from home once again.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Turbans 4 Australia

Turbans 4 Australia is a Western Sydney-based charity, established by the Sikh community, who provide food, water and other support to vulnerable people across Australia. They are currently providing up to 50 food hampers per day to those who have been hit by the lockdown measures resulting from the COVID-19 public health orders now in place across NSW. Low income families, the homeless, casual workers, the unemployed, migrants and refugees and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have all been especially affected by the economic repercussions of lockdown. Many of these people live in Western Sydney.

Turbans 4 Australia was established six years ago and has been supporting diverse communities in urban and rural locations ever since. Last year, for example, they provided food to those trapped in the bushfires in NSW and Victoria, and cleaning supplies to those ravaged by the floods in Taree. In Sydney, they have been supporting COVID affected communities since the pandemic began.

The charity is operated entirely by volunteers and through donations, with no government assistance.

For those in need, food hampers can be picked up at their Western Sydney warehouse, 14 Martha Street, Clyde, currently on Sundays between 11am-1pm and Wednesdays, 6pm-8pm.

For more information, or donations, go to their website or Facebook page:

Website: https://www.t4a.org.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T4Aus%20/

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Police Crackdown in South West Sydney

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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COVID-19 Diaries: Police Hit South West Sydney

A group of policemen sweep through Bankstown Central shopping centre as part of the State Government’s crackdown on COVID-19 related Public Health Orders across south-west Sydney.

More pics to come.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Sydney Heads into Third Week of Lockdown

People exercise along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour as the city heads towards its third week in lockdown. Exercise is one of the few reasons that Sydney-siders are allowed outdoors, under current stay-at-home public health orders.

38 cases of the COVID-19 virus have been detected as of 8pm last night, with 40 people now hospitalised. 10 of these people are aged under 35 years old. 11 people are in ICU and 3 people are on ventilators.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Rushcutters Bay Testing Station Re-opens Under Lockdown

Healthcare workers conduct tests at the reopened COVID-19 testing station at Rushcutters Bay, as Sydney heads towards its third week in lockdown. With the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay is at the centre of the city’s wealthy Eastern suburbs, where the current outbreak of the Delta strain started.

The NSW Premier has today announced that Sydney will go into a third week of lockdown as COVID numbers refuse to decline. Yesterday, there were 45,000 tests in NSW. The government is pleading with the public to continue getting tested. There were 27 locally acquired COVID cases counted as of 8pm yesterday. 18 of these cases were linked to a known cases, 11 were close contacts and 7 were household contacts of previously confirmed cases. There are currently 37 cases in hospital, 7 in ICU and 2 ventilated.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Nurses Wanted

A sign reads ‘Nurses Wanted’, located on the Pacific Highway near Chatswood.

Australia is facing a shortage of nurses across the health system as healthcare workers are redeployed to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The closing of international borders have also exacerbated the situation, with a decline of incoming nurses from abroad.

The shortage of nurses was starkly demonstrated by the NSW government announcing that it would recruit student dentists, podiatrists and speech pathologists to help nurses roll out the vaccine.

With increased workloads and chronic under-staffing a result, better pay and working conditions for nurses have been an issue that unions have been pursuing for months. Some nurses and aged care workers have started industrial action, including strikes, in recent times. Research suggests that 75% of ward nurses talk of leaving their profession, while there is 30% annual turnover of nursing staff at some hospitals.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Mass Vaccination Centre, Sydney Olympic Park

Long queues line up outside New South Wales’ only mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, as the virulent Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the city. There were 34 cases announced in NSW today.

A case of the virus was traced back to this vaccination centre yesterday, sparking fears that some of those getting vaccinated may have been exposed.

The State Government also announced yesterday that it would open three new mass vaccination hubs in the city CBD, Wollongong and Macquarie Fields in coming months.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: CBD Under New Lockdown

Some images of Sydney’s Central Business District under NSW’s latest lockdown and stay-at-home orders.

Part of an ongoing series, ’COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Small Business Suffer During Lockdown.

Small business is bearing the brunt of the latest lockdown and stay-at-home orders in Sydney and New South Wales. Many businesses, including cafes and restaurants, have been forced to shut down whilst these health orders are enforced, at least for the next two weeks.

Some may not survive the lockdown, especially with Jobkeeper terminated earlier this year.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Vaccination Ramps Up Amongst Confusion

Vaccination is ramping up across the state of NSW as the Federal Finance Minister today admitted that Australia was at “the back of the queue” as far as vaccination is concerned.

New large-scale vaccination hubs were today announced by the State Government. But until then, local GPs and small local vaccination centres will bear most of the heavy lifting in so far as administering the jabs are concerned.

A vaccination campaign has finally started to be rolled out, some 18 months after the pandemic began.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Cleaning Team

Members of Sydney’s ‘Cleaning Team’ sweep through the city, offering pedestrians free face masks in an attempt to encourage mask wearing in public and limit the spread of COVID-19.

As the city approaches the end of the first week of a two week lockdown, the new Delta strain of the virus is causing widespread anxiety. Of today’s 24 cases in NSW, about half of them were active in the community whilst infectious.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: The NSW-Queensland Border

Road signs warn motorists not to illegally enter the state of Queensland from NSW as the new Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus grips Sydney.

Part of an ongoing series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Stay Safe

Hay bales dressed up with masks read ‘Stay Safe’ at Nabiac on the Central Coast in New South Wales.

The COVID-19 related health orders that have plunged Greater Sydney into lockdown, have also been extended to much of regional NSW, including Wollongong and the Central Coast. Sydney holiday-makers have been urged to stay home and not travel into more remote parts of the State.

COVID-19 Diaries: Vaccine Hub at St George Hospital

Images from St Georges Hospital’s vaccination hub, which is currently administering the AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19.

While India is buckling under the pressure of the pandemic, in Australia, the take up of the vaccine has been moderate. This has been due, at least in part, by ‘vaccine hesitancy’, as well as the slow distribution and supply of various vaccines, particularly to general practitioners.

Part of an ongoing series, COVID-19 Diaries.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Melchora, Cleaner, Sydney Hospital

Portrait of Melchora, who has been a cleaner at Sydney Hospital for 23 years.

Cleaners and sanitising staff have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic more than a year ago. Migrants and women, in particular, make up much of the profile of those working in these critical occupations.

Australia has experienced another day of zero community transmissions, despite the small outbreak in Brisbane a few days ago and in contrast to yet another surge in cases across China, South America and Europe.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Ann, Nurse, Sydney Hospital

Portrait of Ann, nurse at the COVID-19 Clinic, Sydney Hospital.

As we head into the Easter holiday break, Brisbane’s three day lockdown has been lifted, with just one community transmission yesterday in Queensland and one in northern NSW.

The Byron Bay Blues Festival remains cancelled.

Concerns linger, however, as to whether COVID-19 is still circulating within the community and it is still not clear how the Brisbane transmission occurred in the first place.

Healthcare workers remain at the forefront of this pandemic.

Part of the ongoing series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Portrait of Mandy

Portrait of Mandy, nurse and healthcare worker at the COVID-19 testing clinic at the Sydney Hospital.

Just as hope was emerging that we were over the worst of the pandemic, medical centres and COVID testing clinics around the country are now bracing themselves as the nation awaits if the Brisbane outbreak will be contained after a three day lockdown, which could be extended further over the Easter break if coronavirus cases continue to spread.

Despite no local transmissions in NSW, the Sydney Hospital continues to experience steady testing numbers, particularly by those from hotel quarantine. Healthcare workers remain at the forefront of this pandemic.

Part of the ongoing series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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