NSW tightens lockdown restrictions

New South Wales has recorded 111 new local coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and one new death, prompting the premier to announce tougher restrictions for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Of the new cases, 29 were infectious in the community.

59 cases are linked to a known contact and 47 are household contacts. Over 81,000 tests were processed yesterday.

The health department confirmed the death of a man in his late-80s in South-Eastern Sydney.

Seventy-five people have been hospitalised, with 18 in intensive care.

From midnight Saturday until 30 July, residents of the Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas will not be allowed to leave their LGA for work, unless they are healthcare workers or members of the emergency services.

Workers from those three LGAs who do need to leave the area for work will have to take a COVID-19 test every three days.

There are currently three 24-hour testing clinics in the council area.

Fairfield-based essential workers who are asymptomatic are permitted to seek COVID-19 testing closer to their place of work, rather than wait in queues.

Across Greater Sydney, non-essential retail premises will be required to close – though click and collect, takeaway and home delivery services can still operate.

Supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies, banks, hardware shops, pet shops, post offices, newsagents and office supply shops will remain open for face-to-face retail.

The premier said employers who force employees to return to offices could be hit with a $10,000 fine.

Residents in locked-down areas must carry a mask at all times outdoors. Masks must be worn while working outdoors, in outdoor markets and shopping strips, and when queuing outdoors.

Carpooling between non-household members has also been banned.

Construction work and non-urgent maintenance will also be paused from 19 July.

New exposure sites were on Friday evening issued for several venues, most notably the Woolworths Lennox Shopping Centre in Emu Plains, Service NSW at Liverpool, Coles at Hurstville and a Lakemba butcher.

IKEA at Marsden Park was also listed as an exposure site.

The NSW government said on Friday night anyone travelling to the state from Victoria will be required to follow stay-at-home rules.

Source: sbs.com.au