Infected butcher in Sydney's coronavirus ground zero Lakemba works SIX 14-hour shifts exposing hundreds of customers - as truck stop near NSW-Queensland border joins list of exposure sites
A public health alert has been issued after a large number of new sites across Sydney were exposed to coronavirus - along with a busy truck stop in northern NSW.
The Ampol service station truck stop at Chinderah is just minutes from the Queensland border and southern Gold Coast.
Among the new locations listed in Sydney by NSW Health on Saturday evening are a butcher shop in Lakemba - the centre of Sydney south-west which is of particular concern to health officials.
Other venues of concern include a number of food outlets in Dulwich Hill visited by confirmed Covid cases last Thursday.
A service station and truck stop at Chinderah in northern NSW near the Queensland border was also listed as a venue of concern
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant on Saturday after addressing a press conference
An infected person visited The Fold Cafe on Canterbury Road at Dulwich Hill just before 11am on Thursday July 8.
The Larder Wine and Cheese Bar on nearby Marrickville Road was also visited by a confirmed case, as was Juceria juice bar on the same street both on that afternoon.
Customers at the Lakemba Al-Sultan Butchery have been warned they could have been exposed to Covid after a staff member worked nearly a full week while infected.
The worker was at the location from Friday July 9 for six straight days through to Wednesday July 14 - starting their shift at 8am and not leaving until 10pm.
Two bakeries at Lakemba have also been listed as exposure sites - the La Bella Patisserie and Al Fayhaa Bakery.
Additionally two medical centres - one at Mt Druitt and one at Chester Hill have been listed as venues of concern.
NEW COVID EXPOSURE SITES LISTED BY NSW HEALTH
Anyone who attended the following venues on the days and times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since their last day at the site, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health:
Dulwich Hill The Fold Café 402 New Canterbury Road Thursday 8 July 10.45am – 11am
Dulwich Hill The Larder Wine and Cheese Bar 489 Marrickville Rd Thursday 8 July 1.30pm – 1.45pm
Dulwich Hill Juiceria 497 Marrickville Rd Thursday 8 July 1.35pm – 1.50pm
Dulwich Hill Excellent Price Variety Store Ground floor, 503-507 Marrickville Rd Thursday 8 July 1.50pm – 2.10pm
Lakemba Al Sultan Butchery 130 Haldon Street Friday 9 July 8am – 10pm Saturday 10 July 8am - 10pm Sunday 11 July 8am - 10pm Monday 12 July 8am – 10pm Tuesday 13 July 8am - 10pm Wednesday 14 July 8am – 2pm
Lakemba La Bella Patisserie 42 The Boulevarde Friday 9 July 5pm – 5.15pm
Lakemba Al Fayhaa Bakery 137A Haldon St Sunday 11 July 12.50pm – 1.05pm
Chester Hill Aya Family Healthcare Afterhours Shop 21, Chester Square, 1 Leicester Street Wednesday 14 July 8.30pm – 9.20pm
Chinderah Truck stop at the Ampol service station near Murwillumbah turnoff, including the truck drivers' toilets, showers and lounge, and the food court 112 Tweed Valley Way Tuesday 13 July 8.30pm to Wednesday 14 July 7.30am
Mt Druitt Mt Druitt Medical and Dental Centre 22 Jirrang Close Wednesday 14 July 11.35am – 1.15pm
A butcher in Lakemba has been listed as an exposure site by NSW Health after a staff member worked nearly a week while infectious
The toughening of COVID-19 restrictions in Greater Sydney will cause massive financial loss for businesses and individuals in spite of state and federal support, industry groups say.
Their comments come in the wake of a major tightening of the Greater Sydney lockdown, as NSW recorded 111 locally-acquired cases on Saturday, 29 of them in the community while infectious.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that as of 11.59pm, non-essential retail would close and all construction would pause until July 30.
Workers and businesses in Sydney's southwest are even more heavily restricted, as residents in three local government areas are forbidden from leaving their council boundaries.
The Juiceria juice bar at Dulwich Hill was visited by a confirmed Covid case on Thursday July 8
Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter supports the need for a tougher health response but says the economic fallout will be immense.
'There's no sugar coating that it will have a huge impact on all businesses right across NSW,' he told AAP.
The shutdown of the construction sector alone will mean a loss of $800 million to $1 billion per week.
There is good financial support available but it will not cover all losses and some businesses will not survive, Mr Hunter said.
He highlighted the national economic impact of the Sydney shutdown, saying the region accounted for about a third of Australia's GDP.
Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey called for the revival of JobKeeper to give workers and employers 'certainty and security rather than ambiguity and confusion'.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has closed down all 'non-urgent' construction until July 30 and also shut down home repairs and even paid cleaning services
'Jobkeeper is the answer. It provides all affected workers with a liveable income of $1500 per fortnight while maintaining the connection to their employer,' he said in a statement.
'The ever changing criteria and levels of support payment from the Commonwealth and NSW governments are confusing and bewildering.'
NSW and the federal government unveiled financial support for workers and businesses on Tuesday.
The state expanded its business grants and either cut or deferred payroll taxes for most companies.
Workers who have lost eight or more hours a week as a result of the lockdown will be able to apply for federal support through Services Australia for up to $600 per week.
On Saturday, Ms Berejiklian said businesses did not need to stress about cashflow problems.
Sydneysiders exercise on Saturday amid a lockdown to control a Covid outbreak that began in the city's east
'Over and above what the federal government has given, we are giving billions and billions extra. Everyone is able to get those payments if you are an individual or you can't go to work anymore,' she said.
'Even if it takes a few weeks for businesses to get that money come through the door, at least when they are dealing with financial institutions and others, those institutions can be rest assured that that money is coming through the door.'
Businesses can go to Services Australia at servicesaustralia.gov.au to apply for support or Service NSW at service.nsw.gov.au for assistance.