Sydney may plunge into HARDER lockdown as thousands in Covid hotspots ignore plea to stay home and 63 new venues are exposed to the virus - including a uni where pupil was infectious for 11 days
Tougher lockdown measures could be on the table for Sydney as the Delta Covid outbreak spirals out of control - with a record 319 new cases announced on Saturday and the exposure site list exploding.
New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said a third of the cases - more than 100 people - were out in the community while infectious despite desperate pleas from health officials to follow the rules and stay at home.
The NSW Labor Opposition said on Saturday it would support harsher restrictions brought in by the government to try to reign in the virus.
ADF personnel have been brought in to Sydney to help with the logistics of lockdown restrictions as the delta outbreak continues to grow
Sydneysiders (pictured on Saturday) could have to adhere to even tougher restrictions than currently in place with case numbers refusing to go down
'The NSW government must hold to the strategy of bringing community transmission to zero or close to zero,' Labor leader Chris Minns told the Daily Telegraph.
'If the CHO and NSW government think that more measures are needed, NSW Labor will support them,' he said.
Those comments come after the country's chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said on Friday that Sydney needed a 'circuit-breaker' to drive cases down to zero.
NSW Health announced an alarming list of new infectious person had been on campus at an international boarding house all day for 11-consecutive days, with fears the virus could become out of control in the state's regional areas.
The Canterbury-Bankstown region has become the city's biggest virus hotspot (pictured is Belmore)
While modelling shows the current restrictions have 'suppressed' the outbreak and prevented cases reaching into the thousands, he said the state needed to find 'new ways' to reduce infections.
However, what the new measures could be have not been outlined.
'There is clearly a need for a circuit breaker,' he said.
'I've had many discussions with my colleague in New South Wales around that.'
Saturday's high-risk exposure sites include the Callaghan International House at Newcastle University where a person was infectious at the building all day for 11-consecutive days.
There are potentially hundreds of staff and students exposed to the highly-infectious Delta variant as the virus embeds itself in the state's regional areas.
The university confirmed on Friday two students had tested positive for the virus so far, with further cases expected after the length of exposure.
The new sites also included medical centres and pharmacies in Sydney's west including St Mary's and Penrith, as well as a barber in Kotara.
Anyone at the sites on the listed dates must immediately be tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result after coming into close contact with an infected person.
NSW COVID HIGH-RISK EXPOSURE SITES ADDED ON SATURDAY
The following are close contact sites. Get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
Ampol Maryland - 41 Minmi Road - 4:30am to 10am on Friday 6 August 2021
Barber Industries Westfield Kotara - 75-89 Park Avenue - 1:30pm to 2pm on Thursday 5 August 2021
Belmore Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre - 372 Burwood Road - 1:00pm to 5:30pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Burwood Commonwealth Bank - 116 Burwood Road - 8:15am to 5:15pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021 and 8:15am to 5:15pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Callaghan International House (any block), Callaghan Campus, University of Newcastle University Drive - All day on Wednesday 28 July 2021, for each day and the entire day from July 29 through to August 7
Penrith JANS Family Health Practice - 447 High Street - 7:50am to 6pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021 and 7:50am to 6pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021
New Lambton Heights John Hunter Hospital – Emergency Department Lookout Road 12am to 1:50am on Friday 6 August 2021 8:42pm to 12am on Thursday 5 August 2021
Nextra Newsagency Charlestown Square - Pearson Street - 3:15pm to 3:22pm on Thursday 29 July 2021 and 4:18pm to 4:24pm on Thursday 29 July 2021
St Marys Medical Centre - 53 Phillip Street - 9:15am to 10am on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Terry White Pharmacy Penrith - 447 High Street - 7:50am to 6pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021 and 7:50am to 6pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Anybody who travelled on the following train routes at the times listed below must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of test results:
XPT Regional Train, From Broadmeadow To Armidale via Werris Creek on Thursday 29 July from 11:40am to 5.30pm
A student at a college in the University of Newcastle Callaghan Campus was infectious for 11 days
There have been calls for a 'circuit-breaker' lockdown for Sydney to drive Covid cases back down to zero
AUSTRALIA'S VACCINE ROLLOUT AT AUGUST 7
Per cent of the population over 16 who have had their first or second jab.
AUSTRALIA first dose 43.60
second dose 21.95
ACT first dose 50.44
second dose 25.64
NSW first dose 45.46
second dose 22.29
NT first dose 44.16
second dose 26.83
QLD first dose 39.35
second dose 21.12
SA first dose 43.37
second dose 21.83
TAS first dose 50.48
second dose 27.20
VIC first dose 44.01
second dose 21.87
WA first dose 39.22
second dose 18.97
On Saturday, NSW recorded 319 Covid cases and five deaths.
Three of the deaths have been linked to an outbreak in Liverpool Hospital sparked when a staff member knowingly worked while infectious.
A southwest Sydney man, aged in his 60s, and an inner west man aged in his 80s also died in hospital on Friday after acquiring infections in the community.
Four new cases have been reported in the Newcastle area, with half yet to be linked to a known case.
All people at John Hunter Hospital emergency on Thursday from 8.42pm to 1.50am are close contacts and must isolate.
Two cases found overnight were in the Armidale Regional local government area, which entered a one-week lockdown at 5pm on Saturday.
A long-distance train from Broadmeadow in Newcastle to Armidale via Werris Creek near Tamworth is listed as a close contact exposure site for July 29 between 11.40am and 5.30pm, suggesting a positive case may have carried the virus across the state.
The stay-at-home order applies to all 30,000 people who live in the council area and those there at any time since July 31.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was sorry but contact tracers need time to investigate potential transmissions from a young person who entered the area.
COVID-19 was also detected in Dubbo in the state's central west.
Nearly 350 people are being treated in hospital - more than double the figures two weeks ago.
There are also eight people under 40 in the ICU with Covid.
The new exposure sites follow New South Wales' highest day of Covid infections with 319 cases and five deaths recorded on Saturday (pictured Sydney residents line up for AstraZeneca vaccination)
The Commonwealth Bank in Burwood, in Sydney's inner west has been listed as an exposure site on Tuesday, August 3 from 8:15am to 5:15pm and during the same times on Wednesday, August 4
NSW CASUAL CONTACT EXPOSURE SITES SATURDAY
The following are casual contacts sites. Get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.
7 Eleven Bankstown 180 Stacey Street and Stanley Street 8:20am to 8:35am on Tuesday 3 August 202110:45am to 11:10am on Tuesday 3 August 20218:20am to 8:35am on Wednesday 4 August 20218:20am to 8:35am on Thursday 5 August 2021
South Granville Abou Hussein Mixed Business 170 Clyde Street 2:10pm to 2:20pm on Friday 30 July 2021
Australia Post Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre, 34-36 Victoria Road 12:30pm to 1pm on Wednesday 28 July 2021
Bakers Delight Revesby Shop 9,19 Marco Avenue 11:55am to 12:00pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Bunnings Ashfield Corner Parramatta Road and Frederick Street 5pm to 6pm on Saturday 31 July 2021
Bunnings Bonnyrigg1/9 Bonnyrigg Ave 12:40pm to 1:10pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Caltex Woolworths Moorebank Stockton Avenue 8:20am to 8:30am on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Casula Fish Market10/493-503 Hume Highway 1:30pm to 1:40pm on Monday 2 August 20211:40pm to 1:50pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Ceders Tavern Liquorstax Emerton 139-173 Popondetta Road 10:55pm to 11:10pm on Friday 30 July 2021
Chester Hill Pizza House 216 Waldron Road 3:30pm to 3:40pm on Sunday 1 August 2021
Cincotta Chemist Campsie 157-159 Beamish Street 9:45am to 9:50am on Thursday 5 August 2021
Coles Cambridge Gardens Richmond Road and Boomerang Road 8:45am to 9:15am on Monday 2 August 2021
Coles Merrylands4 McFarlane Street 7:55pm to 8:15pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Coles Rhodes Waterside, 1 Rider Boulevard 9:00am to 10:00am on Friday 30 July 2021
Dan Murphy's Colyton Corner Hewitt Street and Great Western Highway 10:10am to 10:15am on Sunday 1 August 2021
Westmead Darcy Road Pharmacy Shop 3/29-33 Darcy Road 10:50am to 11:10am on Sunday 1 August 202110:55am to 11:15am on Monday 2 August 2021
Putney Dolcini Cafe1/90 Charles Street 7:35am to 7:45am on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Mount Druitt Fresh Farm Markets Mt Druitt Westfield, 49 North Parade 10:00am to 10:05am on Sunday 1 August 2021
Wentworthville Greenfarm Halal Meat NSW Shop 13, 336/326 Great Western Highway 12pm to 1pm on Monday 2 August 2021
IGA Toongabbie Claudia Road 10:05am to 10:15am on Monday 2 August 2021
Parramatta Kanzo Sushi Shop 3/109-113 George Street 1pm to 1:10pm on Sunday 1 August 2021
Kmart Casula Ingham Drive 1:40pm to 1:55pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Castle Hill NAB ATM Castle Towers Ground Floor, 6-14 Castle Street 6:00pm to 6:10pm on Sunday 1 August 2021
Patisserie New York Revesby Shop 3, 19 Marco Avenue 11:50am to 11:55am on Monday 2 August 2021
Harris Park Radhe Wholesale Supermarket 8-10 Station Street East 6:35pm to 7:05pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021
South Penrith Tobacconist 2 Birmingham Road 1:30pm to 2pm on Monday 2 August 202111:45am to 12:15pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
South Penrith Take Away Shop 6, Southlands Shopping Centre, Maxwell Street 1:15pm to 2:10pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Woodpark Speedway 32-36 Woodpark Road 4:30pm to 4:45pm on Thursday 5 August 20214:30pm to 4:45pm on Thursday 5 August 2021
Penrith Sportspower 541 High Street 12:50pm to 1:10pm on Saturday 31 July 2021
St Marys Liquor Stax 27-41 Queen Street 10:15am to 10:35am on Tuesday 3 August 2021
South Penrith Subway Southlands2 Birmingham Road 11:30am to 12:30pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Supa IGA Doonside 52 Rosenthal Street 4pm to 9pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Rhodes Tong Li Supermarket Shop MM2 Rhodes Waterside, 1 Rider Boulevard 10:20am to 10:50am on Friday 30 July 2021
Udaya Supermarket Wentworthville 64-70 Station Street 12pm to 1pm on Monday 2 August 20219pm to 9:10pm on Friday 30 July 20217:55pm to 8:05pm on Wednesday 28 July 2021
Woolworths Granville 6 Louis Street 6am to 6:10am on Tuesday 3 August 20211pm to 1:10pm on Monday 2 August 20214:45pm to 5:10pm on Friday 30 July 202111:35am to 12:10pm on Thursday 29 July 20213:05pm to 3:20pm on Friday 30 July 2021
Hoxton Park Woolworths Hoxton Park Corner Cowpasture and Kurajong Road 10am to 10:25am on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Woolworths Marrickville Metro Marrickville Metro, 34 Victoria Road 11:50am to 12:55pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021 10:30am to 11:30am on Monday 26 July 2021 5:20pm to 6:50pm on Saturday 31 July 2021
Marrickville Woolworths Marrickville 258 Illawarra Road 8:05am to 8:20am on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Woolworths Merrylands Stockland Mall, 209 Pitt Street 8:30am to 9:00am on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Woolworths North Strathfield 145 Concord Road 12:50pm to 1:00pm on Tuesday 3 August 2021
Zags Seafood Store Stockland Merrylands Shopping Centre1 Pitt Street 1:20pm to 1:35pm on Wednesday 28 July 2021
Prouds Westfiield Kotara Shop 2204, Corner Northcott Drive and Park Avenue 1:55pm to 2:10pm on Thursday 5 August 2021
Charlestown KFC Charlestown Square 30 Pearson street, Charlestown Square 12:45pm to 1:10pm on Monday 2 August 2021
Charlestown Square Food Court Guzman y Gomez 30 Pearson street, Charlestown Square 12:45pm to 1:10pm on Thursday 5 August 2021
Metro Petroleum Williamtown 1 Lavis Lane 11am to 12am on Friday 6 August 2021
7 Eleven Shortland 300 Sandgate Road 9pm to 9:05pm on Wednesday 28 July 20213:15am to 3:25am on Friday 30 July 20214:35am to 4:50am on Sunday 1 August 2021
Callaghan Oval 2 soccer match - University of Newcastle University Drive 5:30pm to 6:45pm on Wednesday 4 August 2021
Cha Time Westfiield Kotara Level 3 Rooftop, Corner Northcott Drive and Park Avenue 2:05pm to 2:15pm on Thursday 5 August 2021
Cha Time Charlestown Square 30 Pearson street, Charlestown Square 12:40pm to 12:45pm on Monday 2 August 2021
At least 83 new cases reported on Saturday were in the community during their infectious period, with the isolation status of 98 others unknown.
NSW Health also added another 63 exposure sites to the venue list on Friday evening.
A college at the University of Newcastle was listed as a close contact exposure site after a student was infectious for 11 days.
Other locations to be added to the list include a St Mary's medical centre and a Terry White Chemist in Penrith.
A Sydney Commonwealth bank, a physiotherapy clinic and a regional train line were added to the Covid exposure sites list earlier on Saturday.
The Belmore Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre in the city's south-west was exposed to the virus on Tuesday August 3 between 1pm and 5.30pm.
Anyone who visited the clinic during those times has been urged to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of their test results.
The same instructions have been given for the Commonwealth Bank in Burwood, in the city's inner west.
The bank has been listed as an exposure site on Tuesday, August 3 from 8.15am to 5.15pm and during the same times on Wednesday, August 4.
The Belmore Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre in the city's south-west was exposed to the virus on Tuesday August 3 between 1pm and 5.30pm
BREAKDOWN OF NSW CASES ON SATURDAY
112 from South Western Sydney
98 from Western Sydney LHD
57 from Sydney LHD
23 from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
20 from South Eastern Sydney LHD
Seven from Northern Sydney LHD
Two from the Hunter New England LHD
Member for Armidale Adam Marshall confirmed the LGA will go into lockdown from 5pm on Saturday for one week after a woman tested positive to Covid. One of her household contacts is also believed to be a positive case.
The town - which is home to 29,704 residents - is almost six hours drive away from Sydney's CBD and the epicentre of the Covid crisis.
The stay-at-home order applies to all people in the council area since July 31.
There's also been four new cases reported in Newcastle, which along with the Hunter region has joined Greater Sydney in lockdown.
These cases have all been recorded in younger people, health authorities said.
The Emergency Department at the John Hunter Hospital New Lambton Heights, in Newcastle, has meanwhile been put on Covid alert.
Anyone who visited the site between Thursday August 5 from 8.42pm to Friday August 6 at 1.50am must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of their test results.
An apartment block in Liverpool, in the city's south-west has also now been locked down.
There are currently 56 people in NSW in intensive care with the virus. Pictured are residents in Coogee Beach on Saturday morning
There are 14 people infected with the virus at the unit block on Campbell Street.
'All residents of this block have been determined to be close contacts and are required to isolate for 14 days and undergo repeat testing,' a spokesperson said.
'Testing of residents will be done in their apartments, as they cannot leave during their isolation period.'
Virus experts have called for a new type of test to implemented.
Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws said the only way to stop the cycle was using high-quality antigen tests, which return results within 15 minutes, to check workers at large sites.
'The only way around this is test, test, test,' she told ABC radio on Friday.
'This is a screening test to make sure that people are coming on to the shop floor or the packing room or truck driving safely.'
Senior cabinet minister Simon Birmingham said the federal government was in active discussions about using rapid tests at essential workplaces in Sydney.
'We definitely want to see the availability for rapid antigen testing used in an effective and efficient way,' he told Sky News.
ADF soldiers are seen walking in Fairfield in the city's west where a worrying surge in cases have been seen