The chief health officer of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has told residents not to talk to one another outside of the home amid a strict lockdown in Sydney. “Whilst it is human nature to engage in conversation with others, to be friendly, unfortunately, this is not the time to do that,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant told reporters on July 20. “So even if you run into your next-door neighbour in the shopping centre … don’t start up a conversation. Now is the time for minimising your interactions with others even if you’ve got a mask.” Meanwhile, the state’s premier said residents should not leave their homes unless they have to and echoed Chant’s advice not to engage in conversations outside of the home. This comes as NSW recorded another day of high new, locally acquired COVID-19 case numbers, with 110 detected in the 24 hours …