Hurstville's Chinese community leaders have assisted the ABC News in filming a special message in Cantonese and Mandarin urging community members to stay COVID-safe and get the vaccine.
ABC's NSW newsroom is rolling out community service videos on social media featuring Sydney community leaders from various multicultural groups delivering health warnings in a variety of languages including Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Assyrian, Arabic and Khmer.
The videos are featuring on the ABC Sydney Facebook and Instagram accounts and being cross-promoted on the ABC NEWS channel and 7pm News.
Georges River Councillor Nancy Liu and Dr Jiang Li of the Hurstville Medical Practice took part in the campaign and were interviewed this week in both languages, Dr Li in Mandarin and Cr Liu in Cantonese, by ABC News Sydney at Hurstville Plaza.
They are emphasising the message of " Please Stay Home" and why it is so important.
"We understand that it's hard, but we simply cannot visit family and friends right now," Cr Liu said.
"Please use the phone or messages to stay in touch instead. It is vital that everybody stays home unless it is absolutely essential to leave the house. Only one person should be going shopping per day, and only one person should be making care and compassionate visits. Visits to family and friends are not an essential reason to leave the house. It's important to remember that once one person has COVID-19, the Delta variant quickly infects everyone in their household as well.
"To keep our community safe, please follow NSW Health advice. If you are directed to get tested for COVID19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules.".
Councillor Liu also said Georges River Council has put the message out that NSW Health has highlighted a recent surge in cases in the Georges River LGA, particularly in young adults.
"Everyone in the LGA is urged to be on high alert when leaving home for an essential reason. Only go into work if it is absolutely essential," Cr Liu said.
"When you leave the house, assume that someone next to you has COVID. Wear your mask and maintain physical distance. Stay vigilant and come forward for testing even if you have the slightest symptoms."
She urged people to refer to the following government link which provides the latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW.
Councillor Liu also urged and encouraged local residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves, family members and the broader community. She said she had her first AstraZeneca dose via her local GP in May with pretty mild side effects and without any high temperature.
Two to three days after jab, she felt totally back to normal. However, the reactions to different vaccines vary from person to person.
"Please still speak to your GP (doctor) to understand the risks and benefits before getting jabbed," she said.
Councillor Liu also listened and complied to the government and her GP's instructions, which led her to get her second dose this week rather than waiting to have them 12 weeks apart.
Dr Li said the Chinese community complies better than most to health orders.
"But NSW Health asked us to pass information on to the Chinese community," Dr Li said.
"We told our community that they must have the COVID check so we can control the current version of the Delta virus.
"We told people that the Delta variant is much more contagious. If one person has the Delta variant then the whole family will catch it.
"The Chinese community has been compliant with the health orders from the start of the pandemic last year.
"The community is quite nervous because the numbers are going up and not down.
"Our message told them two important things - first is the importance of social distancing and lockdown.
"Secondly, we need to quickly increase the vaccination program.
"A lot of people have had the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and wait 12 weeks for the second dose. The longer time increases its efficiency.
"If you have the second dose after four weeks it has a 70 to 80 per cent efficiency. After 12 weeks this increases to 90 per cent.
"If you have just the first dose your chances of not getting the virus and passing it on after one dose is 50 to 60 percent.
"Having the second dose sooner it is 80 per cent. I think 80 per cent is better than 60 per cent.
"We are advising people to come forward and have their second dose sooner," he said.
"Everyone must do their bit and fight this variant and we can beat this thing as we did before."
The videos are featuring on the ABC Sydney Facebook and Instagram accounts and being cross-promoted on the ABC NEWS channel and 7pm News.
The messages can be seen on ABC NEWS SYDNEY on its social media platforms:
Facebook: https://fb.watch/v/18dixQkFC/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRN00FTnucL/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRN8wHvBxgO/
Facebook: https://fb.watch/v/1puxSxQQ-/
