Huge list of NSW venues are exposed to Covid and virus is found in sewage in towns where there are ZERO known cases - as entire state goes into lockdown after darkest day since pandemic began
New South Wales recorded its darkest day since the Covid-19 pandemic began on Saturday with 466 new infections.
By Saturday evening, the state was told another 26 venues had been exposed to the virus.
Everyone in NSW was thrown into lockdown at 5pm on Saturday following the record-breaking number of infections - along with four deaths.
Of the new local cases, 345 are under investigation, while 87 people were in the community for all or part of the time they were infectious - a number health authorities have tried to get as close to zero as possible since the outbreak began.
There are fears the virus is spreading far and wide across NSW following the detection of Covid fragments in sewage in Broken Hill in the far west, where there are no known cases.
'Everyone in these areas 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.
NSW Health on Saturday flagged several sites that were visited by Covid-19 cases including 17 in Dubbo alone - which recorded 16 new infections - such as a church and a Priceline Pharmacy.
New South Wales experienced its darkest day since the Covid-19 pandemic began on Saturday with 466 new infections recorded and another 26 exposure sites listed around the state
NSW Health on Saturday flagged several sites that were visited by Covid-19 cases including 17 in Dubbo alone such as the Saint Laurence OToole Church
The Priceline Pharmacy in Dubbo was also exposed to the virus on Tuesday August 10 from 1:55pm to 3:55pm
Sydneysiders are seven weeks into a lockdown with no end in sight (pictured residents at Bondi Beach)
Other venues of concern have popped up in the Hunter region and the Central Coast including a chiropractor's office and a train station.
The Saint Laurence OToole Church in Dubbo, in central NSW, was visited by a positive case on Sunday, August 8 between 6:50am and 8:35am.
Anyone who visited the church during those times is considered a close contact and must isolate for 14 days regardless of Covid test results.
The same direction applies to those who shopped at the Priceline store in the town on Tuesday August 10 from 1:55pm to 3:55pm.
A skateshop and various cafes were also listed as exposure sites in Dubbo with close contacts to go into two weeks of isolation immediately.
NSW EXPOSURE SITES ON SATURDAY
Anyone in attendance at the following venues at the following times must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:
Dubbo, Saint Laurence OToole Church - Sunday August 8 from 6:50am to 8:35am
Dubbo, Relish Cafe - Tuesday August 10 from 11:55am to 12:30pm
Dubbo, Blend Sixty-Six Cafe - Sunday August 8 from 8:20am to 8:35am
Dubbo, Storm Riders - Tuesday, August 10 from 1:30pm to 1:35pm
Dubbo, Priceline Pharmacy Dubbo - Tuesday August 10 from 1:55pm to 3:55pm
Dubbo - Fitness Focus - Monday August 9 from 3.53pm to 5.50pm
Anyone in attendance at the following venues at the following times must immediately get tested and isolate until given a negative result. If your date of exposure at this venue occurred in the last 4 days, you must get another test on day 5 from the date of exposure and limit your movements until you get another negative result:
Dubbo, Bawrunga Medical Centre - Tuesday August 10 from 12:30pm to 12:35pm
Woy Woy - Deepwater Plaza - Wednesday August 11 from 11:40am to 12:20pm
Woy Woy - Woolworths - Sunday August 8 from 1:10pm to 1:55pm
Charlestown, Priceline Pharmacy Charlestown - Wednesday August 4 from 1:55pm to 2:05pm
Cardiff, Woolworths Cardiff - Saturday August 7 from 1:17pm to 1:45pm
Charlestown, Charlestown Square Shopping Centre - Wednesday August 4 from 1:04pm to 3:45pm
Dubbo, Woolworths Delroy Park - Wednesday August 11 from 11.30am to 11.45am and 5pm to 7pm
Dubbo, Chemist Warehouse Dubbo - Saturday August 7 from 2:20pm to 2:35pm
Dubbo, Big W Dubbo - Monday August 9 from 10am to 12pm
Charlestown, Gadget Mall, Charlestown Square - Wednesday August 4 from 2:38pm to 2:39pm
Dubbo, Officeworks Dubbo - Thursday August 5 from 4:23pm to 4:42pm
Dubbo, Dubbo East Post Office - Thursday August 5 from 3:57pm to 4:05pm
East Maitland, Guzman y Gomez Stockland Green Hills - Saturday August 7 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm, Sunday August 8 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm, Monday August 9 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm and Wednesday August 11 from 5pm to 8.30pm
Rutherford, Sprouting Health Chiropractic - Saturday August 7 from 9:45am to 10:25am
Dubbo, Kmart Dubbo - Tuesday August 10 from 10:30am to 12am
Dubbo, Millers Dubbo - Tuesday August 10 from 1:15pm to 1:30pm
Dubbo, Spotlight Dubbo - Tuesday August 10 from 4pm to 4:20pm
Dubbo, Woolworths Dubbo - Monday August 9 from 4:05pm to 4:35pm
Dubbo, Westpac Dubbo - Monday August 9 from 3:45pm to 3:55pm
Central Coast and Newcastle Line, Strathfield Station to Wyong Station - Saturday July 31 from 9:59am to 11:34am
Anyone in attendance at the following venues at the following times must immediately get tested and isolate until further notice from NSW Health:
Dubbo, Bawrunga Medical Centre - Wednesday August 4 from 4:45pm to 5:45pm
Exposure sites have also popped up in Charlestown in Greater Newcastle with alerts being issued for the town's shopping centre and another Priceline pharmacy.
The Guzman y Gomez restaurant in East Maitland was also exposed over several days from Saturday August 7 to Wednesday August 11.
NSW Health has issued a new series of instructions for those who visited several recent exposure sites.
Anyone who attended specific venues listed is urged to get tested immediately and isolate until given a negative result.
However, if the exposure occurred within the last four days, residents must get another test on day five from the date of exposure and limit their movements until a another negative result is received.
Saturday was NSW's worst day on record for Covid infections which prompted Premier Gladys Berejiklian to introduce a raft of new restrictions
Residents are seen soaking up the sunshine in Bondi Beach on Saturday following a record breaking 466 new cases
Saturday was NSW's worst day on record for Covid infections which prompted Premier Gladys Berejiklian to introduce a raft of new restrictions while Sydneysiders try their best to stay hopeful amid a seventh week of lockdown.
The four deaths announced on Saturday were a woman in her 40s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s, and a man in his 80s.
This brings the number of coronavirus-related deaths to 43 during the current outbreak, with NSW recording 99 overall.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro was criticised for announcing the change in restrictions for regional NSW on Twitter on Saturday afternoon - two hours before the lockdown was due to begin.
The new lockdown restrictions mean everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, with residents unable to have visitors from outside their household including family and friends.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro was criticised for announcing the change in restrictions for regional NSW on Twitter on Saturday afternoon - two hours before the lockdown was due to begin
Some commenters said people not on Twitter would not get the information
NSW residents replying to Mr Barilaro's tweet were furious the announcement wasn't made more publicly.
'There's only two hours to go, surely you should get on television and give people some notice?' One person said.
'Very strange that the deputy is announcing this on Twitter. WTF goes on in those meetings,' another said.
'Why wouldn't you announce it at the presser this morning? 2.5 hours notice for those in regional NSW? What if those people aren't on Twitter?' A third added.
REGIONAL NSW LOCKDOWN
The lockdown applies for the whole of regional NSW, effective from 5pm Saturday until 12.01am Sunday 22 August 2021.
Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.
People still can have one visitor for carers' responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.
All hospitality venues must be closed to the public, including pubs, restaurants and cafes, except for takeaway.
Some other retail premises are required to close.
Anyone who leaves their home must carry a mask with them.
Masks must be worn when working outdoors, by all school staff, by all people in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food.
Every employer across NSW must require their employees to work from home unless it is not reasonably practicable.
It is a reasonable excuse to leave your home for work – but only if it is not practicable to work from home.
There will be a one-day 'grace period' for planned weddings and funerals in the regional areas that have not already been subject to a lockdown.
From Monday, small funerals and memorial services of 10 persons only (excluding the persons conducting the service) will be permitted.
'This is terrible messaging for rural and regional people! Why has it not been properly announced with clear directions?!' A fourth person said.
After NSW recorded more than 2000 fresh cases in the past week the Australian Medical Association had urged for the statewide lockdown saying the health system could no longer manage the alarming increase in case numbers.
'Our already fragile rural and regional health system will be unable to cope with increases in cases,' AMA NSW President Dr Danielle McMullen said in a statement.
Ms Berejiklian described the current outbreak as an 'extremely concerning situation' and told reporters on Saturday morning travel restrictions would be tightened in Greater Sydney effective from Monday.
'You can do activity within your local government area but instead of 10km from your home, it will be 5km from your home and that's for all of Greater Sydney,' she said.
Travel restrictions in Greater Sydney have been tightened and residents will now have to be within 5km of their home if leaving for essential reasons
A handy website will show you a five-kilometre radius from your home address
For those who don't know exactly where the 5km boundary from their house extends, there is an easy way to check.
The website KM From Home allows users to enter their address and see a red circle on a map which will indicate where they can travel to.
To use the service simply allow the website to access your location - a popup will appear - or you can type your address or even drag a pin to the correct point on the map.
The police presence will also ramp up in affected LGAs, with officers able to impose larger fines of $5000 for breaching public health orders.
'There will be a visible and increased police presence in the affected local government areas including deployment of specialised commands, and including the riot squad, highway patrol, and increased presence more broadly,' Ms Berejiklian said.
An additional 500 ADF personnel will be deployed on top of 300 already in NSW.
The police presence will also ramp up in affected LGAs, with officers able to impose larger fines of $5000 for breaching public health orders
Also from next week, people in Greater Sydney will need a permit to travel to regional NSW while single people in affected LGAs will need to register their 'single buddies' online to make it easier for police conducting compliance checks.
The bubble was originally set up to give those living alone during lockdown a 'buddy' to socialise with but the new mandate will allow the government to keep track of who is sleeping with who - and it's now known who will have access to the information.
'Unfortunately some people were trying to get around the rules imposed,' the premier said hinting that singles were visiting more than one person.
'In affected local government areas you will need to register your single buddies so people are not abusing that rule.'
She reiterated there has been no known cases linked to people operating under the singles bubble but the new restrictions are being imposed to ensure spread doesn't occur.
The affected areas where the restrictions will apply are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and areas of Penrith councils.
Anyone living in the listed LGAs can only have a single buddy who also lives within their same LGA.
While people in Greater Sydney cannot travel more than 5km from their home, there is no restriction on visiting a partner based on 'compassionate grounds'.
Sydneysiders - and those in the regions - will also now be handed a $3,000 fine for breaching the two-person exercise limit. There will also be $3,000 fines for Sydneysiders found wrongfully found entering regional NSW.
Sydneysiders - and those in the regions - will also now be handed a $3,000 fine for breaching the two-person exercise limit
Ms Berejiklian told reporters people leaving their house for exercise had to be either actively exercising or supervising children.
'Exercise means exercise, many people know that but unfortunately some people were trying to get around the rules imposed,' she said.
In positive news a $320 cash payment will be offered to anyone who needs to isolate after taking a Covid test - and would be financially affected for doing so - in a bid to prevent potentially infected residents going in to work.
'We have the $320 immediate payment now available, so if people are waiting at home, they have access to the disaster payment if they are out of work but if there is somebody who was working who has been asked to stay home for various reasons they are waiting for their results, they will be eligible for the $320 payment,' Ms Berejiklian said.
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 biggest increases in case numbers in western Sydney were in Blacktown, Doonside, Mount Druitt, Maryland, Guildford and Auburn, the Premier said.
A string of new exposure sites around NSW were also listed on Saturday as residents undergo tough new restrictions
For those in lockdown in regional NSW, people fulfilling carers' responsibilities are permitted to have one visitor for compassionate reasons.
Two people who are in a relationship but do not live together may also visit each other.
All hospitality venues in regional areas must shut, including pubs, restaurants and cafes, except for takeaway.
Mask mandates are also in place and must be worn when working outdoors, by school staff, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in outdoor queues when waiting for takeaway services.
NSW Health has given a one-day grace period for planned weddings and funerals in regional areas which may still go ahead until 12.01am on Monday August 16 but only if guests are from areas that have not already been subject to a lockdown.
From Monday, only small funerals and memorial services of 10 persons will be permitted in the regions.
The news of the announcement sparked the dreaded return of panic buying across the state on Saturday afternoon.
Panic buying chaos in NSW. One resident in Coffs Harbour, in north-eastern NSW, was so desperate they offered to sell their spot in a queue on a Facebook group at a Woolworths with wait times estimated at 40 minutes
Another busy supermarket is seen following 466 new cases across NSW
The shelves of supermarkets around regional New South Wales have been stripped bare after panic buyers packed their trolleys following the lockdown announcement
A massive queue formed outside Woolworths in Griffith, in central NSW, on Saturday afternoon with toilet paper running out at 4pm.
Similar scenes were reported across the region.
Footage from the Griffith Woolworths showed dozens of shoppers filling their trolleys and stocking up on essentials - despite supermarkets staying open during lockdown.
Meanwhile, a Coffs Harbour local was so desperate they offered to sell their spot in a Woolworths queue on a Facebook group because of wait times of up to an hour.
Similar scenes were seen at supermarkets in Broken Hill, in far-western NSW, with bread, milk and toilet paper in high demand.
GREATER SYDNEY NEW RESTRICTIONS AND FINES - SATURDAY
* Residents living in Greater Sydney must be given a permit to leave the region
* Travel radius for residents of Greater Sydney reduced from 10km to 5km
* Residents are also unable to visit their second homes except for under special circumstances
* $5,000 fines for breaching quarantine, lying on a permit or contact tracing
* $3,000 fines for breaching two-person exercise limit and wrongfully entering regional NSW
* 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
* $320 payment plan for those having to isolate while awaiting test results and are unable to work will also be set up