Gladys Berejiklian launches last-ditch bid to make Sydney's lockdown WORK - but she's refusing to budge on one rule... amid fears Covid has spread even FURTHER into regional NSW
Sydneysiders will face a string of new Covid restrictions including a ban on leaving the city as authorities vow to close 'singles bubble' loopholes and issue tougher fines for rule breakers - but Gladys Berejiklian won't budge on limiting outdoor exercise.
A NSW government cabinet meeting on Friday evening agreed current restrictions weren't doing enough to curb the Indian delta strain outbreak after 390 cases were recorded earlier that day.
The crisis meeting came as a worrying new list of Covid exposure sites across the state was revealed - and fragments of the virus were found in the outback town of Broken Hill where there are no known cases.
From Monday, residents living in Greater Sydney will need a permit to leave the region - and anyone found breaching public health orders will be be fined $5,000 - instead of the $1,000 previously handed out.
A $320 cash payment will be offered to anyone who needs to isolate after taking a Covid test - and who will lose money if they're not at their job - in a bid to prevent potentially infected Sydneysiders going in to work.
Meanwhile, police are said to be frustrated that the 10km travel limit for Sydneysiders to exercise hasn't been reduced to a 5km radius after vehemently arguing for it in the cabinet meeting.
It's understood they are fed up with people in more Covid-hit areas being able to go to suburbs less infected or gather at popular parks and beaches.
Ms Berejiklian is reportedly reviewing the rules around exercise which means tougher restrictions could be enforced at a later date.
Sydneysiders will wake up to a harsher lockdown after a string of new rules were enforced following 390 new Covid cases on Friday
Fines of $5,000 will be handed out to those breaching public health orders, a huge jump from the previous $1,000 penalty (pictured police in Bondi)
The payment plan for those unable to work while awaiting Covid test results will be limited to nine LGAs that have been hit the hardest in the recent outbreak.
The payments may be extended beyond those areas if needed and will operate in a similar way to the $450 plan Victoria introduced last year in a bid to stop people from going to work while potentially infected.
GREATER SYDNEY NEW RESTRICTIONS
Residents living in Greater Sydney must be given a permit to leave the region
Residents are also unable to visit their second homes except for under special circumstances
Those who are eligible for the singles bubble in 12 LGAs of concern must register their companion online
These LGAs are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and parts of Penrith
A $320 payment plan for those having to isolate while awaiting test results and are unable to work will also be set up
Fines for breaching public health orders will be raised from $1,000 to $5,000
For those eligible for the singles bubble, they will now have to register the names of their companion online to make it easier for police carrying out compliance checks.
The restrictions apply to those living in the 12 LGAs of concern - which include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and parts of Penrith.
The bubble was set up at the end of last month so those living alone could have a designated visitor as long as they live within 5km of each other.
Police Minister David Elliott put forward the idea after noticing residents were taking advantage of the loophole.
'The problem is people were abusing the singles bubble,' he said.
'We had cases of blokes visiting Kylie's house on Friday, Michelle's house on Saturday and then it was over to Caroline's house on Sunday.
'That's how this thing has spread.'
Both Mr Elliott and Police Commissioner Mick Fuller were excluded from the cabinet meeting despite putting proposals forward a day earlier.
Sydney residents will also now be unable to travel to their second homes except for under special circumstances such as to care for animals or for maintenance.
Only one household member can travel to their other home if granted an exemption.
Residents in Greater Sydney are unable to go between multiple houses they own under the new restrictions
Residents eligible for the singles bubble in 12 LGAs of concern must register their companions online. These LGAs are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and parts of Penrith
Residents will need a permit to leave Greater Sydney under the new rules enforced on Friday night
Meanwhile, fragments of the virus have been found in the sewage treatment plant in the outback NSW town of Broken Hill - where there are no confirmed cases.
'This is of particular concern... everyone in the area is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received,' NSW Health said.
A dozen new venues have been added to the state's list of exposure sites including a medical centre in Dubbo and a Thai restaurant in Newcastle - sparking fears regional parts of the state could see similar outbreaks to that of Sydney.
Residents from Newcastle, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens and Singleton local government areas were due to be freed from lockdown on Friday morning but will remain confined to their homes until next Thursday.
Dubbo was also thrown into lockdown at 1pm on Wednesday and now has 25 active cases.
The R-Harn Thai Eatery in Jesmond, Newcastle, was exposed to the virus on Monday August 9 between 5:35pm and 6:00pm.
Anyone who visited the diner during those times must get tested immediately and isolate until given further advice from NSW Health.
The United Petrol Station in Dubbo was been listed as an exposure site on Thursday August 12 between 12:20pm and 12:40pm - with anyone who visited the station then ordered to isolate for two weeks.
A butcher, gym and sports store have also all been put on alert in the central NSW town.
Several venues in Dubbo, central NSW, have been listed as exposure sites with 25 active cases linked to the area (pictured queue at testing site in Dubbo)
NEW NSW EXPOSURE SITES
Anyone who attended the following venues during the times listed must immediately get tested and isolate until receiving further advice from NSW Health:
Merrylands, Trims Fresh Merrylands - Friday 6 August from 11:05am to 11:15am
St Marys, Aldi - Sunday 8 August from 2:30pm to 6:30pm, Monday 9 August from 7:00am to 1:00pm and Tuesday 10 August from 6:00am to 3:00pm
Seven Hills, Garrad's Pest Control Supply - Monday 9 August from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday 10 August from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday 8 August from 8:00am to 5:00pm
Jesmond, R-Harn Thai Eatery - Monday 9 August from 5:35pm to 6:00pm
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there, regardless of the result:
Jesmond, Priceline Pharmacy - Wednesday 4 August from 12:50pm to 12:55pm
Dubbo, Bawrunga Medical Services - Wednesday 4 August from 4:45pm to 5:45pm
Strathfield, Sydney Haejanggook Restaurant - Sunday 8 August from 7:30am to 10:00pm and Monday 9 August from 7:30am to 10:00pm
Ultimo, Building D, Tafe Ultimo - Monday 9 August from 4:30am to 12:30pm and Tuesday 10 August from 4:30am to 12:30pm
Dubbo, Snap Fitness, Gymnastic Area - Tuesday 10 August from 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Dubbo, Dubbo Sportsworld - Tuesday 10 August from 4:45pm to 6:00pm
Dubbo, Blues Meats - Wednesday 11 August from 1:20pm to 1:30pm
Dubbo, United Petrol Station - Thursday 12 August from 12:20pm to 12:40pm
Of the new cases announced on Friday, at least 60 were infectious while in the community with 250 infections not yet linked to a known source.
Two deaths were recorded, one an unvaccinated woman in her 40s who died at her home in south-west Sydney and a vaccinated man in his late 90s who died while receiving palliative care at RFBI Hawkins Masonic Retirement Village in Edgeworth.
Ms Berejiklian warned figures were likely to soar above the record new cases announced on Friday - raising doubts the city would be freed from lockdown on August 28 as planned.
She remained firm that at least 50 per cent of the state had to be vaccinated before she considered rolling back restrictions - and even then they would only be eased gradually.
So far, just 24.4 per cent of people in NSW are fully vaccinated and close to three million people still need to get a second Covid vaccine shot for 70 per cent of the population, aged 16 and over, to be properly protected.
Despite there being no sign of the virus slowing down, Ms Berejiklian has avoided enforcing a 'ring of steel' around Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned figures were likely to soar above the record new cases announced on Friday - raising doubts the city would be freed from lockdown on August 28 as planned
'Unless you have literally a police officer outside every single household … a ring of steel does not prevent Delta from seeping out,' she said earlier.
NSW Police have requested an extra 500 military personnel to help police enforce home-quarantine orders.
Authorities on Thursday said extra unarmed defence personnel may be called in to patrol the city's worst-affected suburbs as movement restrictions were tightened for residents in three more local council areas - Strathfield, Burwood and Bayside.
Western Sydney and south-western Sydney remain the biggest places of concern despite case numbers recently stabilising in the area.
Earlier on Friday Ms Berejiklian lashed those who continued to flout the rules only to blame it on 'confusion' around the health orders.
Police are seen ensuring residents are following Covid restrictions in Bondi on Friday
When asked by a reporter at Friday's NSW Covid update whether there needed to be more clarity around the rules, the premier was having none of it.
'With the evolving health orders and police enforcement... there is still confusion around some of the public health orders,' the reporter said.
Ms Berejiklian quickly fired back, saying residents feigned ignorance or misunderstanding when they were 'knowingly doing the wrong thing' and pretending they 'didn't know' they were breaking the law.
'It is pretty obvious to us and from the feedback we get from police that people use the health orders as an excuse to do the wrong thing,' Ms Berejiklian said.
'People are saying, "oh, I didn't know". Most of the time that is not true,' she said.
'People are knowingly doing the wrong thing. And pretending it is because they did not understand. We have been very clear about what the rules are.
'The vast majority of people are doing the right thing. When a handful doesn't, it is a setback for all of us.'
Greater Sydney continues to record alarmingly high Covid-19 cases