Residents in locked down buildings across NSW are being restricted to six drinks per day and have reported receiving their packages opened and searched by authorities.
The state’s health department have introduced the drink limit in ‘controlled buildings’ in an attempt to ‘ensure the safety of health staff and residents’.
Common Ground in Camperdown, a housing commission building in Sydney’s inner-west, is the latest building to fall under a full lockdown after several cases were reported in the complex – with locals complaining their methods had gone too far.
‘Hey NSW Police, Common Ground residents are wondering what happened to the alcohol and tobacco items dropped of to them last night?’ Resident and artist Ms Saffaa posted to Twitter.
‘And under which powers are you allowed to confiscate them? Last time I checked these are legal to consume in this country.’
Residents of Common Ground in Camperdown say officials have been confiscating booze and opening their packages as the building sits under a government-controlled lockdown
People living inside the complex have received packages opened by NSW Police to check the contents inside before handing to recipients
People say despite paying for alchol, they are only being rationed six beers or pre-mixed drinks, a bottle of wine or 375ml bottle of spirits per day
The Common Ground building, sponsored by Mission Australia, includes 104 units, many of which providing homes for homeless people throughout the area.
The building was cast into an extreme lockdown nearly two weeks ago after four cases were confirmed on the site.
Residents have had food provided from charities, but they’ve only received a box of canned food lacking nutritional value.
People identified the booze rations as a particular point of contention, with residents only allowed to have either six beers or pre-mixed drinks, one bottle of wine or one 375ml bottle of spirits.
These restrictions are the same as those returning from overseas serving hotel quarantine.
‘A member of our community has delivered multiple hampers of fresh food, alcohol, and cigarettes, however the alcohol and some cigarette packs have been removed,’ Ms Saffaa said.
‘NSW police are systematically searching our package, mail, and our belongings and now we have items missing.’
Health officials say the measures are in place to ensure the safety of both the person drinking and their neighbours.
‘In all residential lockdown locations, NSW Police are there to ensure compliance with the Public Health Orders and assist NSW Health if required,’ a police spokesperson said.
Ms Saffaa said neighbours have complained that their packages are all arriving clearly previously opened, claiming officials have crudely stuck the parcels back together
Residents have had food provided from charities, but they’ve only received a box of canned food lacking nutritional value
Ms Saffaa said neighbours have complained that their packages are all arriving clearly opened, claiming officials have crudely stuck the parcels back together.
‘My packages have been arriving sealed. However, my neighbour received a package from a department store. The seal was broken then re taped with clear tape,’ she posted to Twitter.
‘My neighbour contacted the store and they reassured him that the package was sealed when it left their premises.’
Returning Australians from overseas have experienced similar controls in hotel quarantine, with people having certain items confiscated including toasters by staff before packages arrive.
Ms Saffaa also complained of being interrupted at all times of the day and night by workers including nurses, asking questions and repeatedly performing tests.
NSW recorded one of the deadliest days of the pandemic on Wednesday with nine fatalities – including a man in his 20s – and a further 1,480 new cases.
The chief health officer argued that reopening with such high case numbers could have a significant impact on the state’s healthcare system and result in increased hospitalisations if vaccination rates aren’t higher.
She pointed to recent examples in which highly-vaccinated nations such as Israel and the United Kingdom suffered a surge in new infections immediately after reopening.
While the long-awaited date is being dubbed ‘Freedom Day’, there will still be a number of restrictions in place and venues such as nightclubs will not be included in the initial reopening.
Under plans agreed to during a crisis cabinet meeting on Wednesday, millions in NSW will finally lose the shackles of lockdown on October 18 – providing the 70 per cent fully-vaccinated target is met (pictured, pub-goers in Sydney’s The Rocks on Anzac Day 2021)
Under the ‘vaccine passport’ plan set to be formally announced on Thursday at 11am, double-dosed residents – including those in the 12 LGAs areas of concern – will be given a wide range of new freedoms (pictured, diners at a Bondi eatery when restrictions eased in June last year)
Bars, restaurants and shops are set to reopen to double-jabbed customers, with capacity limits such as those seen after the first lockdown eased in June 2020 also likely to apply.
Anyone working in newly-opened industries will have to be fully-vaccinated and the one person per four sq/m rule will likely be in place.
Guests at weddings and funerals will also be capped although the exact details are yet to be revealed.
Those entering a venue must prove their vaccination status by scanning in via QR code using the Service NSW app.
Anyone who has not received the jab will not receive the same freedoms and be refused entry.