Sending the army into locked-down Sydney will leave the most vulnerable feeling angry and targeted

Adding khaki to the emergency response gives an extra dimension to the ‘war’ on Covid, but is fraught with possible long-lasting repercussions, writes Paul Daley

From this week uniformed troops will help over-stretched police and public health officials across Sydney on everything from contact tracing to welfare checks and delivering emergency supplies. Photo: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

The New South Wales government’s eventual decision to accept troops to enforce Covid-19 public health restrictions and door-to-door compliance reflects the depths of the alarming crisis it finds itself in when it comes to controlling the Delta variant in locked-down Sydney.

From this week uniformed troops will help over-stretched police and public health officials across Sydney on everything from contact tracing to welfare checks and delivering emergency supplies.