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"Look after your neighbours": Amanda Keller breaks down on air

Amanda Keller has opened up about the difficulty she is having during Sydney’s latest lockdown, in a new segment for WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda today.

The broadcaster and TV host repeatedly had to choke back tears as she publicly pleaded for answers on when the current Covid lockdown would come to an end.

“I had a tough day yesterday … someone from Melbourne was telling me that week five was the hardest. I think that’s what we’re in now – week four, week five?” Keller said.

She admitted she had shed “a few tears” while watching Wednesday’s NSW press conference, announcing 110 new cases (Thursday’s figure is worse, with 124 new cases).


“I feel weepy talking about it now … I could feel the difference in the energy of that press conference yesterday.

“People are frightened. People are frustrated. We’re told we’ll only come out of this when we’ve got 80 per cent vaccination – when’s that happening? That’s not soon,” she said.

“Our premier says, ‘I’m confident we’ll come out of this.’ When? What if we don’t? What is it?”

Keller became more emotional while describing the toll the lockdown had taken on her two sons.

“That’s what I was in tears about yesterday. I was thinking about everyone’s mental health … this is so hard.

“I’ve got a son who’s 20 – I want him, and everyone’s kids, to take a year and go travelling. Where’s Contiki for our kids! I’ve got a son in year 12 – he said to me yesterday, ‘Have I had my last day of school?’” she revealed, her voice breaking.

“I’m an optimistic person, (but) I just feel, where’s the end? And what people are angry about this time as opposed to last year is, why are we in this position?”

Keller called the situation “emotionally and psychically hard,” as her co-host Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones tried to console her.

“No one has the answers, and that’s why this is hard. Look out for your neighbours, look out for your friends, because everyone’s having a hard time,” she said.

There were 124 new locally acquired cases of coronavirus recorded in the 24 hours to 8 pm on Wednesday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the number of those people infectious in the community before being detected was still worryingly high.

Greater Sydney is due to end its lockdown on July 31, but that is an unlikely proposition as the days creep closer to the end of the month.

Tags:
Amanda Keller, radio, COVID lockdown, NSW lockdown, media