Responding to community concerns, the NSW Government has assured residents of the Waterloo Estate that key lessons have been learnt from Melbourne’s high-rise response and that — in order to avoid a police-led lockdown — it has adopted a preventative strategy. To that end, the Land and Housing Corporation has announced that sanitiser has been installed in the Waterloo high risers. A cleaner is also based at each building from 7am-7pm every day to disinfect communal areas. Furthermore, local agencies have been told that the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and the Department of Communities and Justice will work with them should a local response need to be implemented.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to detect infections early through testing, the SLHD has set up a screening station at the Waterloo Neighbourhood Centre (Shop 95, Wellington Street, Waterloo). The clinic runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2pm-4pm. Residents who display the slightest of symptoms — sore throat, cough, fever, runny nose, or difficulty breathing — are advised to get tested as soon as possible. Any tenant who tests positive for the coronavirus will be placed in supported quarantine. Free testing is also available at the Redfern Health Centre. And there are drive-through clinics at Rozelle, Homebush, and Summer Hill.