NSW restrictions will last months under ‘soft lockdown’ approach, epidemiologist says

Experts say to control the outbreak faster the state should clarify its definition of essential workers and consider closing more stores

New South Wales' coronavirus case numbers will keep bubbling along and restrictions will continue for months because of a soft lockdown" approach that relies too heavily on people doing the right thing without clear guidance, a top epidemiologist says.

Prof Tony Blakely runs epidemiological modelling on Covid-19 for the University of Melbourne's school of population and global health, and provided advice to the Victorian government during its prolonged second wave in 2020.