For a couple of days now the number of new COVID infections in NSW has surpassed those in Victoria. While we shouldn't panic, it's a stark reminder that we should still be hyper-vigilant.
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On Wednenday the NSW Premier warned that the state was on the verge of another outbreak like the one we saw in July, which clustered around the Crossroads Hotel in Casula on the outskirts of Sydney.
Of particular concern for us outside the city is the appearance of cases in Bargo, southwest of Sydney.
That is why NSW is once again on high alert for the virus. It means those of us with even the mildest symptoms owe it to ourselves, our family, our friends and our community to get tested immediately.
Any inconvenience should be minimal, with results now getting back to people well within 24 hours. And the minor discomfort of having the test early is easily outweighed by the consequences of not having it.
The big concern is that people might be self-diagnosing themselves with, say, hayfever or the common cold and leaving the testing and self-isolation too late.
The temptation might be to wait until the symptoms get worse before getting tested.
If they do have COVID and are out in the wider community they risk unknowingly spreading the virus.
The Victorian experience has shown how quickly the disease can seed into the community and how it can spread far and wide.
And in the northern hemisphere, we can see the consequences of the virus returning in a second wave.
Across that continent and in the United Kingdom, COVID is back with a vengeance reflected in soaring infection rates.
At least 100,000 new cases are being recorded every day, eclipsing the United States, where 51,000 cases are reported each day.
The viral rebound seems to have been fuelled by the easing of restrictions over summer. Removing the caps on gatherings appears to have provided the virus with the perfect breeding ground.
Now those restrictions are being reimposed, causing a renewed wave of uncertainity and economic pain.
Being an island with closed borders, we face fewer challenges keeping COVID at bay but this doesn't mean we're out of the woods. So keep social distance, wear a mask if you can't, register when you enter a venue. And wash your hands. Rinse and repeat
