Premier Dominic Perrottet says he doesn’t regret easing health measures in NSW on December 15.

Despite a new variant of COVID-19 surging through infections, the government removed mask and check-in requirements and allowed unvaccinated patrons to return to pubs, cafes and gyms.

Just over one week later, some of these health measures made a return.

Chris O’Keefe suggested the ease of restrictions caused a rapid leap in case numbers and added pressure to overloaded testing clinics.

“Do you regret dropping restrictions on December 15?” he asked the Premier. “If you had your time over, would you have kept them in place?”

Mr Perrottet denied that the changes were regrettable.

“No, not at all. We look at the evidence in front of us, we make the assessment, we tailor our settings to where they are.

“NSW, despite this, is in a very strong position, very strong position as we move through.”

Press PLAY below to hear Chris O’Keefe confront the Premier on the state’s overwhelmed testing system