Bizarre rumour that Kerry Chant has quit goes viral on Sydney's worst day of the pandemic after top doctor in NSW didn't attend a press conference for three days
Rumours much-liked NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has resigned have been quashed by health authorities who have assured the state's residents their favourite doctor will be back at the Covid press conferences soon.
On Saturday, which has been the 'worst day' of the pandemic in NSW after a record 466 new Covid cases, speculation mounted online that the state's top doctor had suddenly quit.
Dr Chant had not addressed the state in her usual way, standing closeby to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, for the past three day.
A NSW Health spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the bizarre rumour was off the mark.
'NSW Health can confirm Dr Kerry Chant has not resigned. She wasn't at today's press conference as NSW Health staff work on a rotation basis when appropriate.'
Representatives from NSW Health have quashed false rumours NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant has resigned
After NSW recorded 466 new Covid cases on Saturday, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed lockdown measures will be further tightened (pictured, mounted police patrolling Bondi Beach)
A handful of tweets from Saturday suggesting NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant had resigned
With Dr Chant a notable absentee from Gladys Berejiklian's press conference this morning, social media went into overdrive that the relentless nature of the role and public scrutiny had finally taken its toll.
One man asked 'Does anyone know what has happened to Kerry Chant ? I "heard" she had tendered her resignation because they weren't taking any notice of her recommendations. Is this true?
A second incorrectly stated: 'It appears that Dr Kerry Chan is a casualty of the political decision makings'.
Respected Australian media commentator Mike Carlton also weighed into the chat, asking his 100,000 Twitter followers 'where is Dr Kerry Chant the NSW chief health officer?
'(Is she) exhausted, taking a much needed break? Or has she told (NSW Premier) Gladys to shove it? The people are entitled to know.'
Doctor Chant has been with NSW Health since the early 1990s and was a director of the public health unit at the Sydney South West Area Health Service prior to being promoted to chief health officer in 2008.
NSW will enter a statewide lockdown from 5pm today after reporting 466 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 and four deaths.
The four deaths were a woman in her 40s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s, and a man in his 80s.
This brings the number of coronavirus-related deaths to 43 during the current outbreak.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the situation as 'extremely concerning' and told reporters on Saturday morning travel restrictions would be tightened in Greater Sydney effective from Monday.
'You can do activity within your local government area but instead of 10km from your home, it will be 5km from your home and that's for all of Greater Sydney,' she said.
Police presence will also ramp up in affected LGAs, with officers able to impose larger fines of $5000 for breaching public health orders.
Following confirmation of four deaths on Saturday, the number of coronavirus-related deaths is now 43 from the current outbreak (pictured, patients at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown)
'There will be a visible and increased police presence in the affected local government areas including deployment of specialised commands, and including the riot squad, highway patrol, and increased presence more broadly,' Ms Berejiklian said.
An additional 500 ADF personnel will be deployed on top of the 300 already in NSW.
And from next week, people in Greater Sydney will need a permit to travel to regional NSW while single people in affected LGAs will need to register their 'single buddies'.
Ms Berejiklian also told reporters people leaving their house for exercise had to be either actively exercising or supervising children.
'Exercise means exercise, many people know that but unfortunately some people were trying to get around the rules imposed,' she said.
The biggest increases in case numbers in western Sydney were in Blacktown, Doonside, Mount Druitt, Maryland, Guildford and Auburn, the premier said.
Of the new local cases, 121 are linked to known outbreaks and 345 are under investigation, while 87 people were in the community for all or part of the time they were infectious.
The isolation status of 303 people is also under investigation.
GREATER SYDNEY'S NEW RESTRICTIONS AND FINES - SATURDAY AUGUST 14
* Residents living in Greater Sydney must be given a permit to leave the region
* Travel radius for residents of Greater Sydney reduced from 10km to 5km
* Residents are also unable to visit their second homes except for under special circumstances
* $5,000 fines for breaching quarantine, lying on a permit or contact tracing
* $3,000 fines for breaching two-person exercise limit and wrongfully entering regional NSW
* Those who are eligible for the singles bubble in 12 LGAs of concern must register their companion online
* These LGAs are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and parts of Penrith
* $320 payment plan for those having to isolate while awaiting test results and are unable to work will also be set up