Bunker down for another four weeks

Residents in Greater Sydney will have to bunker down for another four weeks as stay at home order have been extended.

NSW recorded 177 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night (July 27) 74 are linked to a known case or cluster – 60 are household contacts and 14 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 103 cases is under investigation.

The lock down will remain in place until Saturday, August 28 across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

The call out is for more people to get vaccinated to ease restriction in the near future.

“Though the Pfizer supply is insufficient there is plenty of AstraZeneca, and updated federal health advice recommends anyone aged 18 and over in Greater Sydney should access the jab,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Restriction changes are as follows:

From midnight tonight (July 28) –

• In line with exercise rules, Greater Sydney residents including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour must limit their shopping to within their local government area (LGA) or, if outside their LGA, within 10km from home, unless the item is not available locally.

• Given localised case numbers, the Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River LGAs will join the five existing LGAs of concern which are subject to an Authorised Workers Order. Only authorised workers in these eight LGAs may leave their area for work.

• The other LGAs of concern are Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Blacktown and Cumberland.

From 12.01am, Saturday, July 31 –

• Construction in non-occupied settings outside of the LGAs of concern (with no residents on-site) will re-open as planned, subject to a one person per 4sqm rule. These low-risk construction sites must have COVID safe plans in place, compliance will be strictly enforced. Construction cannot resume in the eight LGAs of concern, nor will construction workers be allowed to leave these areas.

• Trades people, including cleaners who are able to work with zero contact with residents will also be allowed to resume (no more than two people inside and five outside). If contactless arrangements are not possible, work cannot go ahead. This work will not be allowed in the eight LGAs of concern, nor will workers be allowed to leave these areas.

• A singles bubble will also be introduced, allowing people who live alone to nominate one designated family member or friend to visit for companionship. Restrictions will apply for people in the LGAs of concern.

Year 12 students are also set to return to face-to-face learning on Monday, August 16, for the resumption of in-class study under strict COVID protocols.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said more support will be given to those people and businesses hardest hit during this pandemic.

“Working with our federal counterparts we are providing extra support to ensure the businesses and people who have been hit hardest by this pandemic get the financial assistance they need to get through this crisis and back on the path to recovery,” Mr Perrottet said.

Nominations are open for 2022 Australian of the Year awards

If you know of someone who is an ‘unsung hero’ who works tirelessly for the betterment of society or in their chosen field, nominate them for the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards, but hurry nominations close on July 31, 2021

The awards rely on the public to submit nominations for people who should be recognised each year and nominations close at midnight (AEST) this Saturday.

Nominating is simple and can be done online at australianoftheyear.org.au.

There are four award categories:

Australian of the Year

Senior Australian of the Year

Young Australian of the Year

Australia’s Local Hero

National Australia Day Council CEO Ms Karlie Brand said it only takes one nomination for someone to be considered for the awards.

“One nomination is all it takes to ensure the person you find inspiring is in the running for the Australian of the Year Awards,” Ms Brand said.

“We rely solely on members of the public to nominate people for the awards, so you really do have a very important say in who you think should be recognised.

“Your nomination could find the 2022 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero.

“Each year when we announce the award recipients, there are people out there in the community who submitted a nomination which put things in motion – it’s a very powerful thing to nominate someone.”

While submitting a nomination is very easy to do, there are some useful tips available here: https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate/

More than 100 COVID-19 cases

NSW recorded 112 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm July 11.

Of the acquired cases, 64 are linked to a known case or cluster – 41 are household contacts and 23 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 48 cases remains under investigation.

Thirty-four cases were infectious in the community.

Since June 16, there have been 678 locally acquired cases.

There are currently 63 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 18 people in intensive care, four of whom require ventilation.

The local government areas of concern are Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool. Among the mentioned LGAs Glenfield and areas of the Blue Mountains have also been highlighted.

Transmission in workplaces remains a concern. Everyone should work from home if possible. For essential workplaces:

Limit the interaction and mixing of employees, prevent meetings and gatherings, and reduce the size of the groups;

It is mandatory to wear masks – including indoors and outdoors on construction sites,

and;

Remind everyone in the workplace that they must not attend if they have even mild cold like symptoms. They need to get a test immediately and isolate until they get a negative result. They also need to check the NSW website every day for updated venues in case they are a contact.

People are also reminded not to have visitors at their homes and everyone is reminded that household members only includes those who live with you, not any other family members.

Check the NSW Health website for more details.