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.