Crackdown on Covid-ravaged Sydney starts TODAY as 130 inspectors hunt rule breakers across the city and dramatic new restrictions are flagged amid another steep rise in exposure sites
A crackdown on Sydneysiders flouting lockdown laws will begin on Saturday with 130 additional inspectors being deployed from Fairfield to Bondi in an effort to stem the latest Covid outbreak.
Officers from Liquor and Gaming, SafeWork NSW, the Food Authority and Fair Trading will be ensuring residents are adhering to protocol, specifically targeting the use of QR codes and wearing of masks.
The move comes as the New South Wales Government reportedly held crisis meetings on Friday night to discuss introducing dramatic new restrictions including police checkpoints on major roads and cameras that scan licence plates so authorities can identify people who are entering areas they are barred from.
The shutdown of almost all retail stores is also on the cards amid another steep rise in venues exposed to the virus.
'It has been conceded by the government that the current lockdown is not doing the job it needs to, so they will go harder,' Nine News reporter Chris O'Keefe reported.
'A few of the options are shutting retail across Greater Sydney and forbidding certain types of work, otherwise a more localised lockdown of the Fairfield area going as far as having police checkpoints and cameras which can read number plates, fining people if they leave the area,' Mr O'Keefe reported.
The NSW Government will hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday morning to finalise plans, with non-essential retail set to be one of the first things scrapped.
A crackdown on Sydney residents flouting lockdown laws will start on Saturday with 130 inspectors being deployed in an effort to stem the Covid outbreak
Sydneysiders have been criticised for flouting the rules and not taking lockdown seriously as cases continue to skyrocket in the Harbour City
The New South Wales government is looking at introducing dramatic new restrictions to slow Sydney's latest coronavirus outbreak - including police checkpoints. Pictured: NSW Police on patrol during the current lockdown
New mandates will see QR codes enforced at construction sites, manufacturing plants, warehouses, supermarkets and retail.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said Sydneysiders needed to respect safety protocol and stop treating the Service NSW application as 'wallpaper'.
'The Service NSW QR code is not wallpaper, it's there to protect your staff and customers as we battle the Delta variant,' he said.
'The green tick on the Service NSW app is a safety stamp — it means the contact tracers can do their job keeping the community safe.'
Mr Dominello said it was now compulsory to check in at every place of work regardless of the sector.
'It is now mandatory to check-in at all workplaces, supermarkets and retail stores,' he said.
'It is vital that businesses are displaying the QR code correctly and taking reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises check-in using their phone or digital sign-in sheet.'
Better Regulation and Innovation Minister Kevin Anderson said officials will be focusing on ensuring businesses are operating under Covid-safe guidelines.
'Customer Service compliance inspectors will be monitoring businesses to make sure they are doing the right thing, keeping us all safe,' he said.
'We know complying with new rules can be tough, which is why we will be working closely with businesses over the coming weeks to help them understand the new requirements and ensure Covid-safe practices.'
The Government is also looking at cracking down on the local government area of Fairfield in particular as they consider reducing the amount of time residents are allowed to exercise outdoors and the distance they are allowed to travel.
Half of the currently unlinked 169 cases originate from the Fairfield area as officials grapple to contain the outbreak in Sydney's west.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said Sydneysiders needed to respect safety protocol and stop treating the Service NSW application as 'wallpaper'
The government is also looking at cracking down on Fairfield in particular as it considers reducing the amount of time residents are allowed to exercise outdoors
One of the possible new measures is an increased police presence throughout the city including checkpoints on major roads
The crackdown comes as more Covid venue alerts were revealed with busy bus routes in the city's southwest, a popular Kmart, and numerous supermarkets added to the list.
NSW Health released the expanded list late on Friday night with the Seven Hills Kmart and Better Health Pharmacy venues of particular concern.
Passengers on some bus routes running to and from Bankstown have also been exposed to the virus and are urged to immediately get tested and isolate.
The construction site of a new multi-million dollar aged care complex at Gordon in Sydney's north has also been listed as a close contact exposure site.
The Grindley Constructions site on Bushlands Avenue was visited by a confirmed Covid case from 7am to 1.30pm on July 12.
Four Woolworths, three Aldis and several pharmacies scattered throughout the city have all become places of casual contacts.
Wollongong Hospital staff were earlier on Friday evening told they must immediately get tested for Covid and isolate if they visited a nearby 7-Eleven store.
The central west of NSW is also on high alert after a person with Covid visited the rural town of Molong - about 290km west of Sydney - on July 16.
The Western District Health Service said contacts of the visitor to the town of about 1,800 residents have been tested and are in isolation.
NEW EXPOSURE SITES IN NSW RELEASED ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Anyone who was at the following venues at these times is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
Woolworths Lennox Shopping Centre at Emu Plains on July 10 from 4pm to 4.45pm
Service NSW at Liverpool on July 12 from 10am to 10.30am
Al Sultan Butchery at Lakemba on July 10 from 9am to 8pm and July 11 from 1.30pm to 8pm
Coles at Hurstville on July 10 from 11.40am to 12.30pm and July 12 from 9.15am to 6.15pm
IKEA at Marsden Park on July 12 from 12pm to 7.30pm and July 13 from 12pm to 4pm
NEW Fairfield Forum Kmart at Fairfield on 11 July 4pm – 4.25pm
NEW Seven Hills Better Health Pharmacy on 11 July 11.15am – 12pm, 12 July 4pm – 4.30pm, 13 July 2.45 – 3.15pm
NEW Grindley Constructions at Gordon 25 Bushlands Avenue on 12 July 7am – 1.30pm
Anyone who was at the following venues at these times is considered a casual contact and should immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
KFC at Fairfield on June 25 from 3.30pm to 11pm and June 26 from 3.30pm to 11pm
Hanson Concrete at Greenacre on July 1 through to July 7 for the whole day each day
KFC at Fairfield on July 6 from 3pm to 9pm, on July 10 from 3.30pm to 11.30pm and July 11 from 9am to 8.30pm
Costco Wholesale at Casula on July 7 from 12.50pm to 4pm
Hungry Jacks at East Greenacre on July 8 from 7.40pm to 8.10pm
Coles at Hurstville on July 8 from 9.15am to 4pm and July 13 from 10am to 3pm
Tobacconist and Gifts at Canley Heights on July 11 from 9am to 9.15am
BP at Bellfield on July 11 from 12.25pm to 12.45pm
I-Juice Plus at Lakemba on July 11 from 4.25pm to 4.40pm
Coles Fairfield Forum on July 11 from 3.30pm to 3.45pm
BWS at Fairfield Neeta City on July 11 from 6pm to 6.10pm
7-Eleven at Prairiewood on July 13 from 7.45am to 7.50am
NEW Seven Hills Anvil Lunchshop 1 July 9.25am – 9.35am Thursday 8 July 9.10am – 9.20am Friday 9 July 10.05am – 10.10am Monday 12 July 9.25am – 9.35am and 12.25pm – 12.35pm
NEW New Seven Hills Woolworths 5 July 3pm – 3.45pm
NEW West Wollongong 7-Eleven Tuesday 6 July 7.30am – 2pm Wednesday 7 July 7.30am – 2pm
NEW Hurstville Tong Li Supermarket Shop 8 July 4.05pm – 4.20pm
NEW Kellyville Aldi on Wrights Road 10 July 3pm – 3.40pm
NEW Kellyville Woolworths 10 July 3.15pm – 3.40pm
NEW Fairfield Freshness 4 Less 12 July 4.25pm – 4.45pm
NEW Kingsford Randwick Oriental Anzac Parade 12 July 5pm – 6pm
NEW Clemton Park Coles 12 July 11.30am – 12pm
NEW Thornton 7-Eleven s 13 July 12.05pm – 12.11pm
NEW Eastern Creek Woolworths 13 July 1.50pm – 2.10pm
NEW Leppington Chemist Warehouse 12 July 4.20pm – 4.30pm and 5pm – 5.15pm
NEW Leppington Woolworths 14 July 3pm – 3.45pm Casula Costco Crossroads Homemaker Centre 15 July 11am – 11.45am
NEW Miller Aldi Miller Central 15 July 11.45am – 12pm
NEW Fairfield West Aldi 15 July 5.30pm – 6.30pm
NEW Fairfield Heights Boulevarde Traditional Bakery 11 July 9.30am – 10.30am
NEW Wakeley IGA 12 July 6pm – 7.15pm
NEW Chatswood ANZ 14 July 12pm – 1pm
NEW Artarmon Mazda 14 July 8am – 5.30pm Thursday 15 July 8am – 9am
NEW Fairfield Heights Woolworths 15 July 2.20pm – 3pm
NEW The following bus routes to and from Bankstown have been listed as casual contact exposure sites:
M91 Bus From Stacey Street at Marcella Street, to Bankstown Station, The Mall, Stand C Sunday 11 July Departed 10.17am – arrived 10.23am
M92 Bus From Bankstown Central, The Mall, Stand D, to Bankstown Station, Stand B Sunday 11 July Departed 10.55am – arrived 10.58am
945 Bus From Bankstown Central, The Mall, Stand A, to Stacey Street at Marcella Street Monday 12 July Departed 6.35pm – arrived 6.40pm
M91 Bus From Stacey Street at Marcella Street, to Restwell Street after Macauley Avenue Monday 12 July Departed 7.19am – arrived 7.21am
M90 Bus From Amour Street after Horsley Drive, to Bankstown Central, The Mall, Stand B Monday 12 July Departed 5.42pm – arrived 6.12pm
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must monitor for symptoms and if they appear get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
Wolli Creek Woolworths on July 8 from 1pm to 1.40pm
Casula Costco Wholesale on July 9 from 1.35pm to 2.10pm
Hurstville Woolworths on July 12 from 3.05pm to 3.25pm
Coogee Maloney's Grocer on July 12 from 5.35pm – 6pm
Coogee Woolworths Metro Coogee Bay Village on July 12 from 5.40pm to 6pm
Hurstville Coles on July 12 from 3.35pm – 3.45pm Tuesday 13 July 3.25pm – 3.35pm Wednesday 14 July 10.30am – 11am
Revesby West Metro Petrol 10-12 Milperra Road Tuesday 13 July 5.30pm – 5.40pm
Hurstville Station Meat Westfield Hurstville, 12/225 Forest Rd Wednesday 14 July 10am – 10.20am
Bondi Junction Chemist Warehouse 133-135 Oxford St Wednesday 14 July 8am – 8.30am
Bondi Junction Coles 500 Oxford Street Wednesday 14 July 8am – 8.30am
The harsh new measures could be applied to hotspots like the Fairfield local government area, where the virus is spreading rapidly. Pictured: police on patrol during Sydney's lockdown
Sydney has been in lockdown for three weeks and the premier has already announced a two-week extension - but there are concerns stay-at-home orders will remain in place well beyond that date
A graph of the new cases over the past week and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still on the rise
Sydney's outbreak of the Delta Covid strain is not yet under control despite three
weeks of lockdown and cases dipping under 100 four days in a row.
A graph of all the new cases over the past week and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still on the rise.
Covid cases in Greater Sydney broke the 1000-case barrier as a further 97 were announced on Friday with 29 in the community for their entire infectious period.
Ms Berejiklian said that critical second number needs to be as close to zero as possible in order for the lockdown to end.
'I can't stress to the community enough my absolute concern that we need to work harder at reducing mobility and reduce our interactions with others if we will bring the situation under control,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday.
Sydney's outbreak of the Delta Covid strain is not yet under control despite three weeks of lockdown and daily cases dropping under 100. Pictured: People exercising in Rushcutters Bay
It's unlikely Gladys Berejiklian will consider easing Sydney's lockdown until Covid figures stabilise and drop. Pictured: Police issuing fines in Bondi
The city's infection rate has seen Australian Medical Association Omar Khorshid claim NSW will need to go harder - or face an 'indefinite' lockdown.
This is despite the number of new daily cases appearing to peak on July 12 at 112, with cases hovering between 65 and 97 in the four days since.
Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly said numbers will continue to 'bounce around' as contact tracers work to stay on top of the virus' spread.
However, she said she would use tougher restrictions should the case rate continue to remain stubbornly high.
'If (Chief Health Officer) Kerry Chant says we need to introduce to reduce mobility that is what we will do,' she said.
The key to ending lockdown is still vaccination. Pictured: A vaccination centre at Sydney's Olympic Park
It's unlikely Ms Berejiklian and Dr Chant will consider easing Sydney's lockdown until the figures stabilise and drop amid concerns that contact tracers still aren't on top of the outbreak.
Sydney has been in lockdown for three weeks and the premier has already announced a two-week extension - but there are fears stay-at-home orders will remain in place well beyond the expected date.
The vast majority of cases on Friday were in the Fairfield council area, in the city's south west.
New South Wales has now recorded 1,026 Covid cases since the state's latest outbreak began on June 16.
Less than a week ago on July 10, the daily average was 32.5 new cases.
But in just six days, that number has more than doubled to 83.8 new cases by Friday. Average cases appear to be trending up by about 10 each day.
Dr Chant said on Friday she 'was not pleased' that transmission of the virus 'appears to be ongoing'.
'We need to disrupt the cycle, our mobility and other interactions,' she said.
The vast majority of cases on Friday were in the Fairfield council area, in the city's south west
The Delta variant of the virus shows no signs of slowing in Sydney and case numbers will continue to rise for at least a few days, according to experts
Professor Emma McBryde, a disease modeller at James Cook University, said Sydney's best case scenario was the lockdown lifting in about three to four weeks' time - probably the latter.
Prof McBryde said the Delta variant of the virus is showing no signs of abating in Sydney and case numbers will continue to rise for at least a few days.
Authorities will then have to determine when the virus has peaked 'and then you have to start chasing those numbers down to zero'.
'Probably four weeks from now, would be a minimum (about August 9),' she said. Even then, the restrictions will ease only slowly.
There have been complaints that Sydney's lockdown isn't harsh enough to stop the spread of the Delta strain
The Burnet Institute's Professor Mark Stoové has warned there was a two week lag between Victoria introducing harsh Stage Four restrictions and case numbers finally falling. Pictured: A man exercising in Rushcutters Bay
The Burnet Institute's Professor Mark Stoové has warned there was a two week lag between Victoria introducing harsh Stage Four restrictions and case numbers finally falling.
Melbourne's strict lockdown successfully brought the virus to heel but went further than Sydney's current range of restrictions.
Melbourne's strict lockdown 4 successfully brought the virus to heel but went further than Sydney's current range of restrictions
Sydneysiders are allowed to travel up to 10km for essential exercise