Thursday, 26 March 2020
Government House, Sydney
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales

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The COVID-19 crisis continues to worsen.  Increasing numbers of people have been diagnosed with the virus and, very sadly, we have now had 11 deaths nationally and 6 here in New South Wales.  To the families and loved ones of those who succumbed to the virus, please accept, on behalf of the people of NSW, my condolences.  

It is very challenging time for the whole community. The loss of jobs is particularly concerning.  There is also so much uncertainty around how long the virus will last, what further restrictions will need to be put in place, how many more jobs will be lost. 

As Queen Elizabeth said last week:

Individuals and families ... around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty.

Her Majesty added:

We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.[1]

Difficult as are the constraints that we all have to observe, the message is clear; we have to pull together as a community, engage in self-isolation as much as possible and follow the advice of the Government and NSW Health.  

Lives, community health and livelihoods depend upon our concerted actions in doing the right thing.  By faithfully observing the governments directions and guidance, the sooner, we as a community, will see the crisis lessen and indeed hopefully abate.

As we increase our physical isolation from one another let’s increase our connection to family, friends and community through phone calls and social media.

We are in this together and we all want to come out of it together.