Thread by @ComissionerKate

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on - it’s that having an effective Test, Trace & Isolate (TTI) function is critical to controlling Covid - even with 80% plus vax levels. And yet there are some worrying signs that NSW’s TTI function is crumbling under the pressure….2/

…Starting with Test: in the past NSW has encouraged people to come out and get tested “with the mildest of symptoms”. This week Chant changed the message to more of an “only if you need to” one stating the system is under pressure…..3/

….In relation to Tracing: there are growing signs that this is falling over. This week Gladys has announced she’s no longer going to report on number of cases infectious in the community. Meanwhile, cases under investigation are skyrocketing….4/

…Further, NSW’s weekly Covid-19 risk monitoring dashboard - which is at red - shows that case interviews within one day of notification dropped from 76% to 46%. It was at 95% just over a month ago….5/

….in terms of isolating: NSW has now stopped reporting on exposure venues altogether. We used to get asked to check the site regularly for updates. Now there’s a handful of sites listed on there from nearly two weeks ago…6/

….the impact of this is that if people don’t check in to a venue - and plenty don’t - they may have no idea they’ve been to an exposure site. When combined with tracing efforts failing - fewer and fewer people who have had contact with a positive case are isolating…..7/

….Meanwhile, NSW Health and Gladys are slowly drawing a veil of secrecy over what is happening. Their last “weekly” Covid surveillance report was issued on the 7th of August. And Gladys is hinting that at 70% vax levels, daily case numbers are no longer relevant….8/

…presumably paving the way for the possibility of ceasing daily reporting on even this. As NSW heads into what may be the most significant health crisis in our lifetimes, our premier and health minister are reducing transparency in an attempt to control the narrative…9/

At a time when full transparency has arguably never been more important, NSW’s leaders seem to be hiring more SPIN doctors than medical ones. While people are fighting for their lives, our pollies are prioritising their political careers. All I can say is - WE WILL NOT FORGET.

Note: graph in third tweet is from the amazing covid19data.com.au/nsw site which was created and updated by @juliette_io

If you haven’t seen it - it’s well worth a visit.