NSW Paramedic Reveals They Are 'F**king Terrified' As The State Comes Out Of Lockown

A New South Wales paramedic has opened up about their feelings on the end of lockdown.

After more than 100 days of continuous and harsh lockdown measures, the state is finally opening up and many people cannot wait to enjoy their freedoms once again.

More than 70 per cent of the state over the age of 16 has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and that means residents get to have some of their favourite things again.

Under the new rules, people can welcome up to 10 individuals to their home; community sport can resume; cafes, pubs and restaurants can reopen (with density limits), gyms and bootcamps can start back up again; retail shops can reopen; and barbers, salons, hairdressers and other personal care businesses can welcome customers.

People were so keen to enjoy their freedoms that they lined up at venues across Greater Sydney at midnight.

There were some select venues like Canterbury Leagues Club and Kmart that opened just as the clock ticked over into October 11 and those places threw open their doors for the first time in months.

While there will be plenty of people who will enjoy a schooner or schnitty from today, there are some who are scared of what's to come.

A 25-year-old paramedic told AAP: "Everyone's so f***ing terrified, all of us in the southwest (of Sydney).

"Look at London - hundreds of people are dying a week and they're just going about it like there's no problem. I don't think Australia is ready for that.

"It feels like all the things that need to be in place aren't and now it's like 'Oh well, we'll see how it goes'."

New South Wales is the first in Australia to reopen from lockdown with Covid-19-safe measures in place and be operating with the lens of 'living' with the virus.

While several states and territories have been free of Covid-19 for ages, none have the view that cases and deaths will happen, but restrictions need to ease.

Case numbers have been falling dramatically since they peaked in the 1,400s back in September and the pressure on some hospitals has eased.

While that isn't the case across the board, many are waiting to see what the coming weeks will bring for health services as people get their livelihoods back.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet told Sunrise: "It is a major step and there's going to be challenges as we go through this period.

"I think we are the first state in the country that's got this system in place as we open up, so I just ask everybody to be patient, treat everyone with kindness and respect, you will have a lot of young people pulling beers, serving tables.

"There will be challenges here as we work through it, but I think everybody across the state is pretty excited for what's been a long 100 days."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie