Alarming new list of Covid exposure sites are revealed including a childcare centre, supermarkets and a string of chemists - as worrying statistic shows contact tracers are fighting a losing battle
Sydney is once again on high alert after 48 new Covid exposure sites were revealed on Saturday morning, with venues, train and bus lines spread from the city's virus-ravaged west to the inner city and eastern suburbs.
Most alarmingly, some of the venues were exposed more than 10 days ago but have only just been added to the list, proving that contact tracers are faltering under the near-impossible task of tracking the outbreak as it spreads.
Among the sites include a number of different chemists - including Priceline Pharmacy and Chemist Warehouse - alongside a childcare centre with times listed from 8.55am to 5.35pm.
Anyone who visited the Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre in Lurnea, in Sydney's south-west between those times on Monday July 26 has been urged to isolate for 14 days regardless of a test result.
The same rules apply to the Jumbo Thai restaurant in Pyrmont from 12.25pm to 12.40pm on Saturday July 24 and 12.55pm to 1.05pm on Monday July 26.
The long list of exposure sites come after New South Wales recorded 170 Covid cases on Friday with 42 infectious in the community.
The new cases prompted Gladys Berejiklian to announce an entire stadium would be set up to help boost the state's vaccination rates and 1,000 police and soldiers have been called in to enforce the Sydney lockdown which is now over a month in.
The new NSW exposure sites have been listed on Saturday morning following a jump by 170 Covid cases on Friday
Sydney is once again on high alert after 48 new Covid exposure sites were revealed on Saturday morning
Anyone who visited the Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre in Lurnea, in Sydney's south-west between those times on Monday July 26 has been urged to isolate for 14 days regardless of a test result
The Chemist Warehouse in Strathfield has also been listed as an exposure site from Tuesday July 27 from 1.55pm - 2.10pm
NEW NSW EXPOSURE SITES
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Pyrmont, Jumbo Thai on Saturday July 24 from 12.25pm - 12.40pm and Monday July 26 from 12.55pm - 1.05pm
Campsie, Alan Lo Chemist on Sunday July 25 from 4.30pm - 4.40pm
Lurnea, Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre on Monday July 26 from 8.55am - 5.35pm
Burwood, Sydney UltraSound on Tuesday July 27 from 8.45am - 10.15am
Strathfield, Chemist Warehouse on Tuesday July 27 from 1.55pm - 2.10pm
Strathfield, Bread Top Shop on Tuesday July 27 from 2- 2.10pm
Beverly Hills, LA Donuts on Tuesday July 27 from 12.05pm - 12.15pm
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:
Chipping Norton, Coles on Tuesday July 20 from 6.35pm - 7pm
Campsie, BWS on Tuesday July 20 from 9am - 9.20am
Chipping Norton, Kebab House on Wednesday July 21 from 9am - 9.10am
Baulkham Hills, Aldi, on Wednesday July 21 from 5.45pm - 3.10pm and Thursday July 22 from 6.49am - 10.25am
Rushcutters Bay, Prestige Paint and Panel on Thursday July 22 from 8am - 4pm
Liverpool, Pharmasave Murrays Pharmacy on Friday July 23 from 10.25am - 10.40am
Riverwood, Riverwood Newsagency & Tobacconist on Friday July 23 from 6.25pm - 6.35pm
Rosebery, IGA on Friday July 23 from 4.45pm - 4.55pm
Auburn, Azrum Market on Saturday July 34 from 9.50am - 10am
Wentworth Point, Coles on Saturday July 24 from 9.15am - 10.05am
Canley Heights, Dai Thanh Grocery on Saturday July 24 from 12.55pm - 1.15pm and Sunday July 25 from 1.35pm - 1.40pm
Leppington, Subway on Saturday July 24 from 1.55pm - 2.05pm
Casula, Chemist Warehouse on Saturday July 24 from 3.50pm - 4.20pm
Lidcombe, Priceline Pharmacy on Saturday July 24 from 3.55pm - 4.05pm
Lidcombe, Familymart on Saturday July 24 from 5.10pm - 5.15pm
Canley Heights, Healthpoint Medical Practice on Sunday July 25 from 9am - 10.30am
Parramatta, Country Growers in Parramatta Westfield on Saturday July 24 from 6pm - 6.15pm
Clemton Park, Coles on Sunday July 25 from 1.30pm - 2pm
Auburn, Auburn Central Shopping Centre on Sunday July 25 from 1.50pm - 3.25pm
Hornsby, Woolworths on Sunday July 25 from 2pm - 2.30pm
Bankstown, Al Baraka Quality Meats on Monday July 26 from 12.01am - 10.15am
Austral, Post Office on Monday July 26 from 9.55am - 10am
Penrith, Officeworks on Monday July 26 from 12pm - 5pm
Punchbowl, Punchbowl Family Healthcare on Monday July 26 from 5.20pm - 5.50pm
Milperra, Amcal Pharmacy on Tuesday July 27 from 1.35pm - 1.40pm
Kingsgrove, Bunnings on Tuesday July 27 from 11.25am - 11.50am
Roselands, Fruit World on Tuesday July 27 from 11am - 11.20am
Anyone on the following bus routes is also considered a close contact and must isolate for 14 days regardless of test result:
Randwick, Bus 400-146, From Bondi Junction Station, Stand F, to Frenchmans Rd at Clovelly Rd, Monday July 19, 1.31pm – 1.40pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Friday July 23, 9.53am – 10.06am
Tuggerah, 24 Bus, From Tuggerah Station, Bryant Drive, to Bateau Bay Square, Access Road and Bay Village Road, Friday July 23, 1.58pm – 2.31pm
Gosford, 21 Bus, From Lions Park, Central Coast Highway, to Gosford Station, Stand N, Friday July 23, 3.41pm – 4.28pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Friday July 23, 4.47pm – 4.58pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Saturday July 24, 4.51pm – 5.02pm
Ashfield, 418-48 Bus, From Leicester Ave before Parramatta Rd to NSW Institute of Sports Medicine, Hospital Rd, Sunday July 25, 8.47am – 8.54am
Campsie, 492 Bus, From Campsie Station, Beamish St, Stand B to Kingsgrove Rd at Kingsgrove Ave on Sunday July 25, 11.06am – 11.15am
Anyone on the following train routes is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until negative:
T4 Line, From Caringbah Station to Bondi Junction Station, Monday July 19, departed 12.23pm, arrived 1.26pm
T2 Line, From Auburn Station to Edmondson Park Station, Thursday July 22, departed 4.11pm, arrived 4.50pm
Metro Line, From Macquarie University Station to Epping Station, Friday July 23, departed 9.16am, arrived 9.19am
T9 Line, From Epping Station to Strathfield Station, Friday July 23, departed 9.24am, arrived 9.43am
T2 Line, From Auburn Station to Edmondson Park Station, Friday July 23, departed 4.11pm, arrived 4.50pm
T2 Line, From Edmondson Park Station to Auburn Station, Friday July 23, departed 11.43pm, arrived 12.23am
NSW Health revealed that a string of bus and train routes have been exposed to the virus from stations such as Bondi Junction in the city's east and Strathfield in the inner west.
A Bunnings Warehouse in Kingsgrove, a Coles in Wentworth Point and an Aldi in Baulkham Hills have also been listed with those who visited the sites during the exposed times urged to get tested and isolate until given a negative result.
There are 187 patients suffering from Covid-19 across the state, of which 58 are intensive care and 24 are on ventilators.
From August 9, Ms Berejiklian said Qudos Bank Arena - a 21,000-capacity complex in the Olympic Park in the city's west - would open to vaccinate students living in eight hotspot local government areas in Sydney's west and south-west.
The state government hopes 20,000 Year 12 students a week will receive a Covid-19 jab every week at the arena-turned-vaccination hub.
The Jumbo Thai restaurant in Pyrmont was exposed to Covid on Saturday July 24 from 12.25pm - 12.40pm and Monday July 26 from 12.55pm - 1.05pm, NSW Health revealed
Greater Sydney is over a month into a lockdown with cases continuing to surge
Friday's daily press conference also came with a stern warning that anyone who attends a planned anti-lockdown protest in Sydney on Saturday would be met by 1,000 officers 'who will be ready to deal with you'.
'Don't come into Sydney to protest,' NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.
'If you do, you will be met by up to 1,000 police who will be ready to deal with you, whether that be via the health orders or other laws.'
Last Saturday thousands descended onto the streets of the CBD with 57 arrested and countless brawls breaking out.
More than 300 ADF soldiers will meanwhile be deployed across Greater Sydney from Monday to help police enforce the lockdown, which was been extended for four weeks until at least August 28.
NSW Police made a formal request to the federal government for the ADF to assist the force's Covid-19 compliance operation on Thursday afternoon.
Police are seen in a meeting ahead of a planned protest on Saturday. Last weekend 57 people were arrested after attending an anti-lockdown rally in Sydney's CBD
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday revealed the vaccination levels required for each stage after a marathon National Cabinet meeting with state premiers.
For Australia to move out of the current stage into Phase B, 70 per cent of the eligible population will need to be fully vaccinated - a target the government aims to hit by December - followed by an 80 per cent threshold for Phase C.
Under Phase B lockdowns would be possible but less likely, while Phase C only allows for 'highly targeted' shutdowns.
Bans on overseas travel have been in place since March 2020 and are likely to continue into 2022 before Australia moves into Phase C. This third stage will see the lifting of all restrictions for vaccinated travellers, and no caps for vaccinated arrivals.
The transition plan was met by a mixed response from Australians, with some predicting vaccination rates would soar as a result and others objecting to Mr Morrison's plan to introduce digital vaccination certificates.
The Prime Minister said certificates for Apple and Android devices were 'days away' and would be used to allow vaccinated citizens from other countries to visit Australia and for Australians to have their vaccination status recognised overseas.
'Digital vaccination certificates for many nations will already be in place. Indeed for Australia, they will be in place,' he said.
'If you get vaccinated, there will be special rules that apply to you. Why? Because if you're vaccinated, you present less of a public health risk,' he said.
Sydney residents are seen on Observatory Hill as cases continue to surge in the city