Leigh Sales ERUPTS over Covid rules: Slamming the impact of virus restrictions on kids

ABC veteran Leigh Sales has hit out at Covid restrictions, claiming they have had a ‘disturbing’ impact on children.

The outbound 7:30 presenter shared her opposition to the rules by tweeting an article from the SMH’s Dana Daniel captioning it ‘the disturbing cost kids continue to pay for Australia’s covid policies’.

Sales made effort in her tweet to point out that ‘they (children) have always had minimal risk themselves of serious illness from covid’.

Leigh Sales herself has two children with her ex-partner Phil Willis.

Leigh Sales has two sons of her own, indicating in her announcement that they were partly the reason she was stepping away from the top job

The article that Sales tweeted reports that young Australians are suffering from conditions including insomnia and anxiety that may be linked to the coronavirus pandemic. 

But her comments sparked outrage others who claim the restrictions saved lives.

‘Australia’s Covid policies saved tens of thousands of lives – primarily before vaccines were available. Covid can kill kids – and it continues to kill their parents and grandparents. How many deaths is acceptable?’ one asked.

‘The accusation that parents haven’t put their kids first in this is frankly insulting. Their wellbeing is tied to ours,’ another wrote.

‘Blaming Covid policies and not the pandemic itself is like blaming seat belts for car crash injuries,’ wrote another.

The Aunty host had reportedly taken time off last year to homeschool her own children in the height of lockdown restrictions.

After the federal election later this year Sales will step away from her presenter role after 12 years in the seat.

In her announcement Sales indicated that her children were a factor in her decision leave the desk.

Sales has been critical of lockdowns and other coronavirus restrictions in the past two years.

The presenter has previously received backlash following her grilling of Dan Andrews, where she accused the Victorian Government of continuing the ‘harsh measure’ of lockdowns that weren’t necessary.

Sales has been critical of lockdowns and other restrictions throughout the pandemic

Her support for ending restrictions comes as the NSW government considers a complete overhaul of the current Covid system in schools – but teachers are lobbying for masks and rapid testing to stay.

Through the opening weeks of the new year there have been no super-spreader events and no schools have been forced to close – with Premier Dominic Perrottet looking to remove a variety of mandates.

Among the changes being considered are allowing parents to return to school grounds, the resumption of full assemblies and year groups being allowed to co-mingle again.

Schools have been operating under staggered drop-offs, with parents barred from entering and classes having to be rescheduled to fit the arrivals of different classes (pictured, a Sydney school)

It comes as strict mask mandates and QR check in requirements are among a swathe of COVID-19 restrictions being eased in NSW over the next week

Schools have been operating under staggered drop-offs, with parents barred from entering and classes having to be rescheduled to fit the arrival of different students. 

Recess and lunch has also looked vastly different, with year groups not allowed to mingle and full school assemblies being completely stopped.

Officials are reviewing whether those rules need to stay in place, with reports suggesting they are ‘more likely’ to be scrapped in the coming weeks, according to Nine News’ Chris O’Keefe.

Teachers however want mask mandates in classrooms to remain, despite the rule being scrapped statewide for indoor settings.

Currently, all primary and secondary school staff are required to wear surgical masks indoors.

They are also calling for regular rapid antigen tests to continue to be used by all faculty and students.

Despite calls from staff, who feel the measures have helped keep schools open, Mr Perrottet and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell are still considering dropping mask and RAT legislation.