'Living up to his name': The Project hosts take a cheeky swipe at Brad Hazzard as they mock the health minister's bizarre statements that 'your homes are the most dangerous place' in 'dramatic' Covid advice
A state health minister has been mercilessly mocked on national television for his stern and 'over dramatic' advice for residents impacted by the latest coronavirus lockdown.
Millions of Sydneysiders and residents in surrounding regions remain under stay at home orders as the latest outbreak from the city's eastern suburbs surges past 220 cases.
With no word yet on whether the two week lockdown will end as planned at midnight Friday, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard raised eyebrows with the claim that we're no longer safe from the highly contagious Indian Delta strain of the virus in our own homes with a reference from Australian movie classic The Castle.
He also warned affected residents to not get too intimate or affectionate to those not living in their household, sparking bewilderment on The Project on Sunday night.
Health minister Brad Hazzard offered some stern Covid advice on Sunday
'Right now the most dangerous place is actually our homes,' Mr Hazzard told reporters at Sunday's Covid update.
'Aussies tend to think of their home as their castle. But right now it can be Covid central.'
'There is only one reason why you should be leaving your home at the present time, and that is caring for somebody who needs that care.
His comments were mocked on Channel Ten's The Project as co-host Nazeem Hussain described the claims as 'slightly over dramatic.'
'Really? Brad Hazzard living up to his name! Thanks, great to know that. Nowhere is friggin safe!' the comedian remarked as amused co-hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Peter van Onselen struggled to contain their composure.
The minister's comments left The Project co-host Lisa Wilkinson amused
Panllelist Jan Fran added: 'What does he want us to do if our homes become Covid central? Where do we go?'
The program then aired more unusually intimate follow-up advice from Mr Hazzard.
'If you do have the need to go to someone's home, it would be very wise for you to avoid kissing, cuddling, closeness, any proximity at all,' he claimed.
'It could mean this virus can get you and spread it then to others when you leave that house.'
The comments sparked laughter and ridicule from The Project panelists.
'What does he want us to do if their homes become Covid central? Where do we go?' Jan Fran asked
'Yeah, that was health minister and sexologist Brad Hazzard,' Hussain quipped.
Wilkinson added: 'So it used to be, 'darling, I've got a headache'.
'Now it's 'I've got a Hazzard'.'
The minister also copped a barrage of public backlash and mockery online.
'We're ordering you to stay at home, that's the most dangerous place right now, it's Covid central… we all clear & feel good about lockdown? FFS,' one woman tweeted.
Another person added: If that's the case why are you EXPOSING people to that via LOCKDOWN?'
Mr Hazzard's latest comments come after a day he publicly branded conspiracy theory activists 'wackos' and begged the public to ignore them.
The Project's Peter van Onselen was also bewildered by the minister's comments
'We are deep in a war with this virus,' he said on Saturday.
'When you're in a war, you don't win it with wacko views.'
'And we can't win this war unless the community are all with us, absolutely. Unfortunately, we're seeing that some people think it's okay not to wear masks.
'Wear a mask and don't get caught up in the wacko views some are expressing.'
NSW recorded 16 new cases on Sunday, a day after the state recorded its highest daily spike in more than a year with 35.
SYDNEY EXPOSURE SITES REVEALED SUNDAY NIGHT
Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Maroubra: Coles - Monday June 28, 7.10am - 8.20am
Maroubra: Coles - Tuesday June 29, 11pm - 11.45pm
Hillsdale: Woolworths - Wednesday June 30, 9.30am - 6.30pm
Hillsdale: Woolworths - Thursday July 1, 9am - 6pm
Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately isolate and get tested until a negative result is given:
Gladesville: Dan Murphy's - Saturday June 26, 3pm - 3.25pm
Rushcutters Bay: Lot 19 Cafe - Tuesday June 29, 8.25am - 8.35am
Rushcutters Bay: Lot 19 Cafe - Thursday July 1, 8.25am - 8.35am
Lane Cove West: Ampol Woolworths Metro - Saturday June 26, 8am - 8.15am
Rose Bay: Coles - Sunday June 27, 11.20am - 11.40am
Maroubra: First Choice Liquor - Friday June 25, 4.30pm - 5pm
Anyone who travelled on the following bus routes at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
M90: Strathfield South Public School to Strathfield Station - Sunday June 27, 8.46am - 8.54am
M90: Strathfield Station to Strathfield South Public School - Sunday June 27, 11.32am - 11.43am
M90: Strathfield South Public School to Strathfield Station - Monday June 28, 8.36am - 8.42am
450: Grace Avenue, Lakemba, to Haldton St, Lakemba - Wednesday June 30, 11.21am - 11.24am
526: Homebush to Sydney Olympic Park - Saturday June 26, 9.33am - 9.44am
M90: Strathfield Station to Strathfield South Public School - Monday June 28, 4.52pm - 5.01pm
M90: Strathfield South Public School to Strathfield Station - Tuesday June 29, 11.51am - 12.00pm
M90: Strathfield Station to Strathfield South Public School - Tuesday June 29, 5.20pm - 5.33pm
Anyone who travelled on any of the following trains at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately isolate and get tested until a negative result is given:
T1: Strathfield to Auburn - Sunday June 27, 8.54am - 9.20am
T3: Auburn to Strathfield - Sunday June 27, 10.39am - 10.49am
T1: Strathfield to North Sydney - Monday June 28, 8.54am - 9.20am
T1: North Sydney to Strathfield - Monday June 28, 4.16pm - 4.43pm
T1: North Sydney to Strathfield - Tuesday June 29, 3.55pm - 4.22pm
T3: Strathfield to Flemington - Tuesday June 29, 4.31pm - 4.36pm
T3: Flemington to Strathfield - Saturday June 26, 8.07am - 8.25am
T2: Newtown to Strathfield - Saturday June 26, 5.39pm - 5.56pm