How almost two million Sydneysiders living under their harshest restrictions of the pandemic are at the 'point of no return' with exposure sites still exploding across the city - but there's one thing going right
Life in locked down Sydney is about to get even worse for nearly two million residents in the city's Covid 'hot zones', living under harsher restrictions than they were forced to endure when the pandemic first began.
Despite five gruelling weeks of stay-at-home orders, case numbers are continuing to surge with 177 locally acquired infections on Wednesday, bringing the total number of transmissions since the outbreak began last month to 2,574.
But in a sign of hope for the state, vaccinations have prevented the Indian Delta from ravaging aged care homes, with just six infections in Sydney facilities and none seriously ill.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday confirmed restrictions would remain in effect until at least August 28 before 104 new exposure sites were listed, including busy supermarkets, shopping centres and chemists.
With eight local government areas in the city's west and south-west under tougher restrictions than the rest of the city from Thursday, one mayor warned the lockdown was 'Armageddon' for struggling workers and their families.
Life in locked down Sydney is about to get a whole lot worse for about two million residents in the city's Covid 'hot zones' with even harsher restrictions to be brought in for eight Local Government Areas (pictured, Sydneysiders near Moore Park on Wednesday)
The map indicates the eight LGAs where Covid transmissions are rapidly spreading
Residents of Parramatta, Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Georges River and Campbelltown are forbidden from leaving their local area unless they are essential workers.
Cumberland's mayor Steve Christou said the nearly two million people living in those areas are 'at the point of no return'.
'I've heard from many in the community that they are struggling to pay rent, mortgages and other bills,' he said on 9News.
'It's devastating that the many businesses that support families will not re-open.
'The construction ban continues on our local government area – obstructing people from making a living. For many, it's Armageddon.'
Despite the spiralling case numbers threatening to keep Sydneysiders locked down for weeks and possibly months to come, health authorities say that Covid vaccinations in aged care settings have helped save the lives of hundreds of vulnerable elderly residents.
There have only been six infections in aged care facilities during this outbreak began with five of them vaccinated all in a stable condition.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said vaccines meant the major difference between Sydney's Delta outbreak and Victoria's second wave was the number of aged care infections and deaths.
Despite the 177 new cases announced Wednesday, many flocked to Bondi Beach to enjoy the unseasonably warm winter sunshine
Meanwhile in Blacktown in Sydney's west, the virus is spreading among the community with this block of apartments (pictured on Wednesday) under police guard and in mandatory isolation
'There couldn't be stronger proof that vaccination saves lives and protects lives,' Mr Hunt told The Australian.
'It significantly reduces, but doesn't prevent, your chances of catching or transmitting the disease.
SYDNEY'S COVID 'HOT ZONES'
Eight LGAs are bound by stricter rules than the rest of Sydney
- Blacktown
- Parramatta
- Cumberland
- Fairfield
- Liverpool
- Campbelltwon
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Georges River
'Overwhelmingly, it reduces the numbers of cases and it’s absolutely clear that it provides enormous protection for everybody, particularly among the most vulnerable.
'The real world evidence from last year in Victoria compared with this year in Sydney could not be more stark.'
During last year's Victorian outbreak that led to 15,304 cases, a staggering 2,060 infections ravaged the aged care sector resulting in the deaths of 685 residents.
It was feared the number of people out infectious in the community with Covid could see workers catch the virus and spread it into aged care facilities, but thanks to the vaccine, this hasn't happened.
'We have struggled to reduce the number of infectious in the community and that is apparent,' Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
'If we want to live freely while vaccination rates remain rather low, that is the one target we need to stick to.'
As well as the 104 new exposure sites on Wednesday night, including several Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, a sewage alert was put out for Molong in western NSW.
Health authorities fear the surprise wastewater find could signal an 'undetected' spread of the highly contagious Indian Delta variant in the remote community of about 1,700 people.
17 Woolworths supermarkets right across the city were among those put on alert, including stores in Burwood and Lidcombe in the inner west and Fairfield and Cabramatta in the south-west.
Bunnings in Smithfield was among the 104 new coronavirus exposure sites revealed on Thursday night
Wednesday's increase in cases is the largest in Sydney's latest outbreak and the highest daily rise since April 2020
Burwood Coles was also flagged as an exposure site along with Campsie Growers Market and Bankstown Lebanese Fruit and Mixed Business.
A number of chemist shops were also issued with alerts including Chemist Warehouse in Campsie, Blooms the Chemist in Leichardt, Priceline Pharmacy at The Ponds and Choice Pharmacy in Spring Farm.
While the majority of exposure venues remains scattered across the western suburbs, there is also growing concerns about potential spread on the Central Coast, about 120km north of Sydney.
Anyone who visited Long Jetty 7-Eleven on July 23 from 3.15pm to 3.35pm is considered a casual contact.
Bus passenger who travelled on the Route 25 bus from Tuggerah Station to Bateau Bay or the Route 21 bus from Lions Park to Gosford Train Station on July 23, are consider close contacts and must immediately get tested and self isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
Burwood Coles in Sydney's inner west was flagged as a Covid exposure site among a host of 104 venues revealed Wednesday night
Ingleburn Woolworths in Sydney's southwest was one of nine Woolworths supermarkets to receive a public health alert
But despite a rise in cases in areas of Sydney previously untouched by the virus, health officials are still most concerned about transmission in the city's west and south-west.
Across the eight affected LGAs, 94 suburbs will all be subject to the state government's Authorised Workers Order which bans all non-essential workers leaving their LGA from Saturday, July 31, at 12.01am.
Testing requirements have also been tweaked to minimise movement in the hotspot suburbs where the virus is spreading most rapidly.
All essential workers leaving Canterbury-Bankstown will need to be tested every three days.
In Fairfield and Cumberland, only aged care and healthcare workers will have to follow the same rules.
Essential exercise: A Sydneysider is pictured during lockdown on Wednesday strolling near Centennial Park
ALL THE CHANGES TO GREATER SYDNEY'S LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS
From 11.59pm on Wednesday July 28:
Greater Sydney residents including the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour must limit essential shopping trips to within 10km of their homes.
Non-essential workers living in the Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River LGAs cannot leave their area for work.
The same rules already applied for residents in Fairfield, Cumberland, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool and Blacktown.
Essential workers leaving Canterbury-Bankstown will need to be tested every three days.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has extended Sydney's stay-at-home lockdown for another four weeks
In Fairfield and Cumberland, only aged care and healthcare workers must be tested every three days.
From 12.01am on Saturday, July 31:
Construction sites can reopen outside the eight LGAs under tighter restrictions.
A singles bubble will be opened - allowing couples to visit each other's homes.
Tradesmen can resume work as long as they do not come into contact with residents. That work will also be banned in the eight LGAs of concern.
From August 16:
Year 12s will return to face-to-face learning and a Pfizer vaccination program will begin in the eight LGAs where transmission of Covid-19 is at its highest.
Rapid antigen testing will also be used for students returning to school across Greater Sydney
FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU
Outside of the 'hot zones' in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour, residents are only permitted to travel 10km from home for grocery shopping, work that can't be performed from home, giving or receiving medical care and daily exercise.
Construction workers in these areas will also be allowed back on the job site as long as the person per 4sqm rule is being enforced and their are no residents on site.
Cleaners have also been given the all clear to return to work as long as there is 'zero contact' and no more than two people inside and five people outside.
Ms Berejiklian emphasised that due to the rapid and concerning spread of the virus, greater compliance operations by police will be carried out by police at businesses, as transmission data shows the Indian Delta variant is mostly being spread through workplaces and household contacts.
'We can't open up and live freely unless we have the number close to zero or unless we have high rates of vaccination,' the Premier said.
One positive note for those living on their own outside of the eight Covid 'hot zones' is the introduction of 'single's bubbles'.
The Harbour City, usually bustling with domestic tourists, has been eerily quiet since the new outbreak began in Bondi on June 16 (pictured, the Harbour Bridge on Wednesday)
Under these rules anyone living alone can nominate one designated family member or friend to visit for companionship.
Ms Berejiklian said the decision was made on the grounds of mental health concerns.
'If you have been or are living by yourself, you are allowed to nominate one person that is allowed to visit you, but it has to be the same person,' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
'You cannot have a different person every day.'
The government are also finalising plans for Year 12 students will return to face-to-face learning from August 16, with students prepping for their end of year exams set to undergo regular rapid antigen testing to monitor for coronavirus.
Restrictions in regional NSW will remain unchanged.
There have only been six infections in aged care facilities during this outbreak began with five of them vaccinated and non seriously ill (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Sydney)
NEW SYDNEY EXPOSURE SITES REVEALED WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Anyone who attended the following venues on the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Roselands: Caltex Woolworths - Monday July 26, 3.10pm - 3.20pm
Engadine: GoVita - Wednesday July 21, 9.45am - 9.55am
Gwynneville: Gwynneville Bakery - Saturday July 24, 9am - 9.30am
Belfield: Mancini's Original Woodfired Pizza - Saturday July 24, ALL DAY
Campsie: Campsie Centre 14-28 Amy Street Friday 23 July All day Saturday 24 July All day
San Remo: Priceline Pharmacy Northlakes Shopping Centre, 21 Pacific Highway Friday 23 July 2:20pm to 2:40pm
Rosebery: IGA 741 Botany Road Friday 23 July 4:00pm to 4:55pm
Engadine: GoVita 1052 Old Princes Highway Wednesday 21 July 9:45am to 9:55am
Beverly Hills: Pizza Hut 322 King Georges Rd Wednesday 21 July 1:45pm to 2:15pm
Anyone who travelled on the below buses at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Route 25: Tuggerah Station to Bateau Bay - Friday July 23, 1.58pm - 2.35pm
Route 21: Lions Park, Central Coast Highway, to Gosford Train Station - Friday July 23, 3.41pm - 4.30pm
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:
Campsie: Campsie Centre - Friday July 23, ALL DAY and Saturday July 24, ALL DAY
Bellambi: Bunnings - Thursday July 20, 11am - 11.15am
Zetland: Coles East Village - Sunday July 25, 4pm - 4.30pm
The Ponds: Costis Seafood and Grill - Saturday July 24, 4.05pm - 4.15pm
Smithfield: Bunnings - Saturday July 24, 3.30pm - 4pm
Canley Heights: Carter Gs Coffee Shop - Wednesday July 21 - 7.40am - 7.50am
Cabramatta: Accounting Dynamics - Tuesday July 27, 4.20pm - 7.30pm
Fairfield: Woolworths Fairfield Heights - Friday July 23, 7.30pm - 8pm
Lidcombe: Bunnings - Friday July 23, 2.15pm - 3.15pm
Lidcombe: Woolworths - Friday July 23, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Plumpton: Woolworths - Sunday July 25, 1.30pm - 1.50pm
Summer Hill: Summer Hill Newsagent - Saturday July 17, 8am - 9am and Wednesday July 21, 8am - 9am
Casula: Coles - Saturday July 17, 12.10pm - 1.30pm
Campsie: Woolworths - Thursday July 15, 6.20pm - 6.40pm, Friday July 23, 1pm - 1.20pm and Tuesday July 27, 2pm - 2.20pm
Fairfield: McDonald's - Thursday July 15, 9pm - 9.30pm
Auburn: Woolworths - Saturday July 17, 10.40am - 11.05am
Kingswood: Freechoice - Monday July 19, 2.10pm - 2.25pm
Fairfield Heights: 7-Eleven - Monday July 19, 7pm - 7.10pm
Merrylands: Services Australia - Tuesday July 20, 10.50am - 11.05am
Campsie: Campsie Growers Market - Wednesday July 21, 8.30am - 6pm and Thursday July 22, 8am - 3pm
Fairfield: Woolworths - Wednesday July 21, 12.30pm - 1.30pm, Thursday July 22, 1.35pm - 2.40pm and Friday July 23, 7.30pm - 8pm
Fairfield Heights: Fairfield Heights Tobacconist - Wednesday July 21, 1pm - 2pm
Campsie: Jin Mart - Wednesday July 21, 4.10pm - 4.20pm
Bansktown: Bankstown Lebanese Fruit and Mixed Business - Thursday July 22, 10am - 10.15am
Harris Park: Australia Post - Thursday July 22, 2.30pm - 2.40pm
Campsie: Chemist Warehouse - Thursday July 22, 6pm - 6.15pmm
Liverpool: Woolworths - Thursday July 22, 7pm - 8.15pm
Cabramatta: Heng's Garage - Friday July 23, 7pm - 8.15pm
Prospect: Uncle Sid's Oven - Friday July 23, 11.30am - 12pm
Long Jetty: 7-Eleven - Friday July 23, 3.15pm - 3.35pm
Blacktown: Kebab Express - Friday July 23, 8.40pm - 8.50pm
Kings Park: Subway - Friday July 23, 9pm - 9.05pm
Campsie: Jono's Cafe - Saturday July 24, 10am - 10.15am
Leichardt: Blooms the Chemist - Saturday July 24, 10.30am - 10.45am
Blacktown: Chester Jakes SuperSave Chemist - Saturday July 24, 10.35am - 10.50am
Lidcombe: Cafe Rodem - Saturday July 24, 11.50am - 11.55am
Ingleburn: Speedway - Saturday July 24, 1pm - 2pm
Ingleburn: Woolworths - Saturday July 24, 2.50pm - 3.05pm
The Ponds: Priceline Pharmacy - Saturday July 24, 4.10pm - 4.20pm
Hornsby: Dan Murphy's - Saturday July 24, 5.20pm - 5.40pm
Burwood: Woolworths - Saturday July 24, 9.15pm - 9.35pm
Burwood: Coles - Saturday July 24 - 9.30pm - 9.50pm
Spring Farm: Choice Pharmacy - Monday July 26, 12pm - 1pm
Spring Farm: Woolworths - Monday July 26, 12pm - 1pm
Lakemba: Woolworths - Tuesday July 27, 2.30pm - 2.45pm
Greenacre: Bunnings Woolworths - Tuesday July 27, 3pm - 3.20pm
Cabramatta: Accounting Dynamics - Tuesday July 27, 4.20pm - 7.30pm
Wentworthville: Officeworks 323 Great Western Highway Sunday 18 July 10:40am to 11:00am
Bankstown: Fields of Fruit Bankstown Central Shopping Centre, North Terrace Sunday 18 July 11:10am to 11:25am
Toongabbie: Toongabbie Fish Market 42B Aurelia Street Sunday 18 July 2:20pm to 2:40pm
Potts Point: Jeremy and Sons 127 Macleay Monday 19 July 7:30am to 7:45am
Leichardt: Leichhardt Marketplace 122 Flood Street Monday 19 July 9:55am to 10:10am
Marsden Park: Puma Energy Australia 365-367 Garfield Road West Monday 19 July 11:00am to 11:05am
Ultimo: ALDI Broadway Shopping Centre 1 Bay Street Monday 19 July 12:00pm to 12:10pm
Pendle Hill: Pendle Inn Hotel 233 Wentworth Avenue Monday 19 July 8:15pm to 8:20pm
Bass Hill: Kahil Meats shop 10/753 Hume Hwy Monday 19 July 3:30pm to 3:55pm
Canley Heights: Carter Gs Coffee Shop 199 St Johns Road Tuesday 20 July 7:40am to 7:50am Wednesday 21 July 7:40am to 7:50am
Bellambi: Bunnings cnr Bellambi and Watts lanes Tuesday 20 July 11:00am to 11:15am
Lakemba: Chemist Warehouse 105 Haldon Street Tuesday 20 July 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Merrylands: Hamze Bros Fruit and Veg 179 Merrylands Road Wednesday 21 July 9:00am to 9:05am
Bass Hill: Woolworths Bass Hill Plaza, 753 Hume Highway Wednesday 21 July 9:05am to 9:15am
Chullora: Aldi Chullora Marketplace, 355‑357 Waterloo Road Wednesday 21 July 9:20am to 10:00am
Cabramatta: Woolworths Cabramatta Plaza, 180 Railway Parade Wednesday 21 July 12:25pm to 12:45pm
Bankstown: Supa IGA Cnr Jacob Street and The Mall Wednesday 21 July 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Narellan: Coles Narellan Town Centre, 326 Camden Valley Way Thursday 22 July 5:00am to 10:10am Saturday 24 July 5:00am to 1:20pm Sunday 25 July 5:00am to 10:00am
Belmore: Belmore Hardware 300 Burwood Road Thursday 22 July 9:30am to 11:00am
Liverpool: Chemist Warehouse 235-243 Macquarie Street Thursday 22 July 11:00am to 11:15am
Liverpool: Westpac Westfield Shopping Centre, Macquarie Street Thursday 22 July 11:20am to 2:25pm
Campbelltown: Priceline Pharmacy Shop 33 Macarthur Square, Gilchrist Drive Thursday 22 July 11:50am to 12:05pm
Fairfield Heights: Fairfield District Medical Centre 147 Polding Street Thursday 22 July 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Rosemeadow: Woolworths Rosemeadow Market Place, Thomas Rose Drive Thursday 22 July 12:20pm to 12:45pm Friday 23 July 1:25pm to 2:10pm
Auburn: Woolworths Auburn Central, cnr Queen Street and Park Road Thursday 22 July 1:50pm to 2:00pm
The Ponds: Flash News Shop 18, The Ponds Shopping Centre, cnr The Ponds Boulevard and Riverbank Drive Thursday 22 July 3:35pm to 3:50pm Saturday 24 July 4:05pm to 4:15pm
Casula: BP 461 Hume Highway Thursday 22 July 4:00pm to 8:00pm Sunday 25 July 7:35am to 4:30pm
Old Toongabbie: Memphis 9 Cafe 11 Picasso Crescent Friday 23 July 8:10am to 8:20am
Kogarah: Fardoulis Sweet and Nuts 129 Princes Highway Friday 23 July 12:00pm to 5:45pm
Lidcombe: Woolworths Lidcombe Shopping Centre, 92 Parramatta Road Friday 23 July 2:30pm to 4:00pm
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed should monitor for symptoms and if they appear, get tested and isolate:
Riverwood: Riverwood Hot Bread - Friday July 23, 12.55pm - 1pm
Liverpool: Barbara Long Park - Wednesday July 21, 4.30pm - 6pm
Liverpool: Hillier Oval, Wednesday July 21, 4.30pm - 6pm