Australia Health Official: Stop Being Friendly With One Another to Stop Covid

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

DON’T ACT LIKE A HUMAN. DON’T TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS, EVEN WHEN MASKED. DON’T BE FRIENDLY. THIS IS NOT THE TIME. pic.twitter.com/iiPgz2D8Bb

— NoRisk_NoReward (@noreward_norisk) July 20, 2021

With Sydney still in lockdown amid a handful of new Covid-19 cases, the top health official for New South Wales has called for a new level of social-distancing inhumanity: not having conversations with other people.

After reporting a whopping 78 new Covid-19 cases and one death in the state, Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant told reporters on Tuesday that Australians shouldn't engage in conversations, even if both parties were wearing masks, and regardless of vaccination status.

"Whilst it's human nature to engage in conversation with others, to be friendly, unfortunately, this is not the time to do that," Chant said.

"So, even if you run into your next-door neighbor in the shopping center ... don’t start up a conversation. Now is the time for minimizing your interactions with others."

Masks don't afford "total protection," Chant added, so residents must avoid talking to each other and "be absolutely sure that, as we go about our daily lives, we do not come into contact with anyone else that would pose a risk."