Cases of COVID-19 in the community are continuing to balloon
The Greater Sydney lockdown has been extended until the end of September, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed this morning.
Curfews will also be brought in from Monday in the Local Government Areas of concern, meaning residents cannot leave their house between 9pm and 5am, unless for a permitted reason, and exercise is limited to one hour per day. Masks must also be worn outdoors across all of NSW – except during exercise.
NSW recorded 642 cases of community transmission today, and four new deaths until 8pm last night, bringing the total number of lives lost during the latest outbreak to 65.
"If you are in a local government area of concern we ask that you limit your exercise to an hour a day," the Premier said.
"Unfortunately, too many people are using that for the wrong reasons.
"Again, we want everybody to be held and utilised that exercise allowance in those areas of concern but we ask you to limit it to an hour a day."
Announcing the new measures this morning, Berejiklian also confirmed that vaccinations would become compulsory in the healthcare sector and disability services. Workers will have until August 30 to have their first dose.
Essential workers who either live or work in the LGAs of concern will also be required to register for a permit to help police carry out compliance checks. The permit system will go live tonight and be enforced from next week. Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said workers would not be fined if they are unable to register for a permit due to technical issues with the site over the weekend.
Local Government Areas (LGAs) of concern include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.
Both the Premier and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant enforced the vaccination message this morning. All residents aged 16 and over will be eligible for Pfizer from the end of August. Across the country, Australia has hit the 50% mark for first doses.
