Sydney records another 210 Covid cases with 53 people fighting for life including 10 under the age of 40 - as police swarm the city to prevent repeat of disgraceful anti-lockdown protest
New South Wales has recorded 210 locally acquired Covid cases overnight with at least 33 in the community while infectious.
Speaking during Saturday's NSW update, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said by far the majority of cases were located in south-west and Western Sydney.
The city's south-west accounted for a mammoth 81 positive cases in the last 24 hours, while 72 cases were acquired in Western Sydney.
Mr Hazzard repeated calls for locals not to visit other households saying this was how a large portion of cases were being transmitted.
'Definitely do not go and visit another household.' he said.
'I know you want to visit your aunts and uncles and cousins. We all do but unfortunately, that is continuing to be a very dangerous exercise and the virus is continuing to spread in that south-western Sydney and Western Sydney area.'
Mr Hazzard also noted the delta strain of the virus appeared to be spreading more easily in the younger population.
'It is definitely is circulating in the younger community and I want to stress that of the 210 locally acquired cases, two-thirds - 138 cases - where people under the age of 40 years old.'
'So my message to younger people is, please, understand this is a virus that you can be susceptible to. You can end up being one of our positive cases. You can end up in hospital and also transfer the virus to your relatives.'
NSW recorded another 210 cases of Covid on Saturday as Sydneysiders remain in the midst of lengthy lockdown (pictured: Sydney on Saturday)
NSW Health listed another 48 exposure sites on Saturday as Covid numbers climbed (pictured: a Sydney resident on Saturday)
Police turned out in massive numbers in the Sydney CBD in an effort to prevent another anti-lockdown protest
Mr Hazzard said 203 people are in hospital with Covid and 53 are in ICU - including 10 under the age of 40.
Authorities also announced on Saturday a man in his 60s also tragically died from the virus.
After massive protests in the Sydney CBD were attended by thousands last Saturday, police have ramped up their efforts to avoid a repeat this weekend.
NSW Police have set up an exclusion zone around the city to last from 9am to 3pm on Saturday.
Taxi and rideshare services in the city have been issued with prohibition notices banning them from taking passengers to the CBD for those six-hours.
Companies who fail to comply with the notice risk a maximum penalty of $500,000, and individuals could be hot with fines up to $100,000, NSW Police say.
The large exclusion zone stretches from the Bradfield Highway at Milsons Point north of the Harbour Bridge, to the City West Link at Lilyfield, to South Dowling St near Todman Ave at Zetland, and east to New South Head Rd near Ocean Ave at Edgecliff.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Friday warned would-be protesters they would be met by a police force up to 1000 strong.
The new NSW exposure sites have been listed on Saturday morning following a jump by 170 Covid cases on Friday
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has made three lockdown announcements since the outbreak began in mid-June
Police expect a protest after monitoring online activity, but believe it will not be in the same numbers as the one that shook Sydney last weekend.
Some 60 protesters have been charged and 200 people fined over that protest which police estimate had 3500 attendees.
There are as many as 80 officers at Town Hall station as they look to stop anyone travelling into the city, particularly from Sydney's west and south-western suburbs.
Another large police presence is stationed at Hyde Park, with dozens more officers combing the CBD checking license plates of cars and what people are doing.
A large police presence is stationed at Hyde Park, with dozens more officers combing the CBD checking license plates of cars and what people are doing.
NSW police have ramped up effort on Saturday to avoid a repeat of wild protests that broke out in Sydney last weekend
Fines were also upped from $200 to $500 on Thursday for non-mask wear compliance across the city as police crack down on people flouting restrictions.
Sydney is also once again on high alert after 48 new Covid exposure sites were revealed on Saturday morning, with venues, train and bus lines spread from the city's virus-ravaged west to the inner city and eastern suburbs.
Most alarmingly, some of the venues were exposed more than 10 days ago but have only just been added to the list, proving that contact tracers are faltering under the near-impossible task of tracking the outbreak as it spreads.
Among the sites include a number of different chemists - including Priceline Pharmacy and Chemist Warehouse - alongside a childcare centre with times listed from 8.55am to 5.35pm.
Police have set up checkpoints entering area of Sydney as they look to stop people flocking to the city for another protest
Police have set up checkpoints around the CBD to prevent people attending any protest
Anyone who visited the Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre in Lurnea, in Sydney's south-west between those times on Monday July 26 has been urged to isolate for 14 days regardless of a test result.
The same rules apply to the Jumbo Thai restaurant in Pyrmont from 12.25pm to 12.40pm on Saturday July 24 and 12.55pm to 1.05pm on Monday July 26.
The long list of exposure sites come after New South Wales recorded 170 Covid cases on Friday with 42 infectious in the community.
The new cases prompted Gladys Berejiklian to announce an entire stadium would be set up to help boost the state's vaccination rates and 1,000 police and soldiers have been called in to enforce the Sydney lockdown which is now over a month in.
The Jumbo Thai restaurant in Pyrmont was exposed to Covid on Saturday July 24 from 12.25pm - 12.40pm and Monday July 26 from 12.55pm - 1.05pm, NSW Health revealed
Officers patrol George Street in Sydney on Saturday in anticipation of another anti-lockdown rally
From August 9, Ms Berejiklian said Qudos Bank Arena - a 21,000-capacity complex in the Olympic Park in the city's west - would open to vaccinate students living in eight hotspot local government areas in Sydney's west and south-west.
The state government hopes 20,000 Year 12 students a week will receive a Covid-19 jab every week at the arena-turned-vaccination hub.
Military personnel have also been called in to help with the city's lockdown.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison reassured communities that Defence Force personnel were not authorised law enforcement officers in NSW.
'The ADF are there to support and assist, as they successfully did during the lockdown in Victoria over many months last year,' he said.
New South Wales Police set up an exclusion zone around the city from Saturday morning after intelligence showed another protest was being planned
NSW police on the Bradfield Highway on the lower north shore in anticipation of another anti-lockdown rally
More than 300 ADF soldiers will meanwhile be deployed across Greater Sydney from Monday to help police enforce the lockdown, which was been extended for four weeks until at least August 28.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
A new, walk-in AstraZeneca vaccination clinic at Bankstown Sports Club opens for its first full day on Saturday.
From Saturday morning Sydney's construction industry can also wake from a forced, fortnight-long slumber, however, industry figures warn it will be barely able to function.
Work will be allowed to resume on non-occupied building sites, provided COVID-safe plans are in force.
But the sector cannot call on 68,000 workers from eight specific council areas that are worst-hit by the city's coronavirus outbreak and have been dished out harsher restrictions that elsewhere.
Anyone who visited the Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre in Lurnea, in Sydney's south-west between those times on Monday July 26 has been urged to isolate for 14 days regardless of a test result
Locals in Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown must wear a mask outside the home and distance limits on movements for shopping and exercise have been reduced to 5km.
About 42 per cent of the construction industry's citywide workforce are from the eight LGAs whose residents must remain their council areas unless they are a critical worker.
The restrictions on the eight local government areas 'will affect so many construction workers that the industry will be barely able to function', construction union official Darren Greenfield said.
Police check drivers on Enmore Road as part of the enforcement of Public Health orders on Saturday in Sydney-
Police horse Tobruk on Saturday in Sydney, Australia. The horse was involved in an alleged incident of animal cruelty, for which a protestor has been charged, during a violent anti-lockdown protest in the Sydney CBD on the 24th of July
He welcomed the end of the industry's shutdown in other parts of the city but urged the government to exempt some workers living inside the council areas 'to avoid bringing the industry to its knees for the long term'.
The state's workplace safety regulator says construction sites should expect a visit to ensure they're complying with public health orders.
SafeWork NSW will work with businesses to help them understand the rules - and will penalise firms blatantly making no effort to comply, the organisation's Director of Construction Metropolitan, Meagan McCool, said.
The education sector is also taking up issues with the NSW Premier - urging her to reconsider plans to allow year 12 students to return to face-to-face learning in August, despite a mass vaccination plan for students in hotspot areas.
A massive police operation is underway in Sydney in anticipation of a second weekend of anti-lockdown rallies in Sydney's CBD
A policeman was covered in ink by frenzied activists chanting anti-vax slogans at Sydney's disgraceful protests last weekend
NSW has set August 16 as the date for a return to the classroom for students completing their final year of high school.
NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos told AAP he was 'deeply concerned' by the safety risk posed by COVID-19 to students and teachers.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian outlined plans on Friday for a stadium in Sydney's west to be converted to rapidly vaccinate 20,000 year 12 students in five days from August 9.
The Olympic Park stadium, Qudos Bank Arena, usually plays host to musicians and sporting events.
Police talk to members of the public in George Street in preparation for an anti-lockdown rally in Sydney on Saturday
Mounted police officers patrol the Sydney CBD on Saturday
Asked whether year 12 teachers will also be vaccinated at the hub, the premier said: 'There is nothing stopping teachers getting vaccinated now.'
'We're calling on anybody over 18 years of age to come forward and get vaccinated. The AstraZeneca is available,' she said.
But Mr Gavrielatos asked the premier to 'reconsider her decision to allow year 12 to return to face-to-face teaching with such a high number of infectious cases in the community'.
Students last year began returning to the classroom when there were only five local transmitted cases and the health and safety of teachers and students should remain paramount, he said.
The Chemist Warehouse in Strathfield has also been listed as an exposure site from Tuesday July 27 from 1.55pm - 2.10pm
NEW NSW EXPOSURE SITES
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
Pyrmont, Jumbo Thai on Saturday July 24 from 12.25pm - 12.40pm and Monday July 26 from 12.55pm - 1.05pm
Campsie, Alan Lo Chemist on Sunday July 25 from 4.30pm - 4.40pm
Lurnea, Kids Guardian Angel Childcare Centre on Monday July 26 from 8.55am - 5.35pm
Burwood, Sydney UltraSound on Tuesday July 27 from 8.45am - 10.15am
Strathfield, Chemist Warehouse on Tuesday July 27 from 1.55pm - 2.10pm
Strathfield, Bread Top Shop on Tuesday July 27 from 2- 2.10pm
Beverly Hills, LA Donuts on Tuesday July 27 from 12.05pm - 12.15pm
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:
Chipping Norton, Coles on Tuesday July 20 from 6.35pm - 7pm
Campsie, BWS on Tuesday July 20 from 9am - 9.20am
Chipping Norton, Kebab House on Wednesday July 21 from 9am - 9.10am
Baulkham Hills, Aldi, on Wednesday July 21 from 5.45pm - 3.10pm and Thursday July 22 from 6.49am - 10.25am
Rushcutters Bay, Prestige Paint and Panel on Thursday July 22 from 8am - 4pm
Liverpool, Pharmasave Murrays Pharmacy on Friday July 23 from 10.25am - 10.40am
Riverwood, Riverwood Newsagency & Tobacconist on Friday July 23 from 6.25pm - 6.35pm
Rosebery, IGA on Friday July 23 from 4.45pm - 4.55pm
Auburn, Azrum Market on Saturday July 34 from 9.50am - 10am
Wentworth Point, Coles on Saturday July 24 from 9.15am - 10.05am
Canley Heights, Dai Thanh Grocery on Saturday July 24 from 12.55pm - 1.15pm and Sunday July 25 from 1.35pm - 1.40pm
Leppington, Subway on Saturday July 24 from 1.55pm - 2.05pm
Casula, Chemist Warehouse on Saturday July 24 from 3.50pm - 4.20pm
Lidcombe, Priceline Pharmacy on Saturday July 24 from 3.55pm - 4.05pm
Lidcombe, Familymart on Saturday July 24 from 5.10pm - 5.15pm
Canley Heights, Healthpoint Medical Practice on Sunday July 25 from 9am - 10.30am
Parramatta, Country Growers in Parramatta Westfield on Saturday July 24 from 6pm - 6.15pm
Clemton Park, Coles on Sunday July 25 from 1.30pm - 2pm
Auburn, Auburn Central Shopping Centre on Sunday July 25 from 1.50pm - 3.25pm
Hornsby, Woolworths on Sunday July 25 from 2pm - 2.30pm
Bankstown, Al Baraka Quality Meats on Monday July 26 from 12.01am - 10.15am
Austral, Post Office on Monday July 26 from 9.55am - 10am
Penrith, Officeworks on Monday July 26 from 12pm - 5pm
Punchbowl, Punchbowl Family Healthcare on Monday July 26 from 5.20pm - 5.50pm
Milperra, Amcal Pharmacy on Tuesday July 27 from 1.35pm - 1.40pm
Kingsgrove, Bunnings on Tuesday July 27 from 11.25am - 11.50am
Roselands, Fruit World on Tuesday July 27 from 11am - 11.20am
Anyone on the following bus routes is also considered a close contact and must isolate for 14 days regardless of test result:
Randwick, Bus 400-146, From Bondi Junction Station, Stand F, to Frenchmans Rd at Clovelly Rd, Monday July 19, 1.31pm – 1.40pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Friday July 23, 9.53am – 10.06am
Tuggerah, 24 Bus, From Tuggerah Station, Bryant Drive, to Bateau Bay Square, Access Road and Bay Village Road, Friday July 23, 1.58pm – 2.31pm
Gosford, 21 Bus, From Lions Park, Central Coast Highway, to Gosford Station, Stand N, Friday July 23, 3.41pm – 4.28pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Friday July 23, 4.47pm – 4.58pm
Strathfield, 415-81 Bus, From Strathfield Station, Albert Rd, Stand G, to Belfield Shops, Burwood Rd, Saturday July 24, 4.51pm – 5.02pm
Ashfield, 418-48 Bus, From Leicester Ave before Parramatta Rd to NSW Institute of Sports Medicine, Hospital Rd, Sunday July 25, 8.47am – 8.54am
Campsie, 492 Bus, From Campsie Station, Beamish St, Stand B to Kingsgrove Rd at Kingsgrove Ave on Sunday July 25, 11.06am – 11.15am
Anyone on the following train routes is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until negative:
T4 Line, From Caringbah Station to Bondi Junction Station, Monday July 19, departed 12.23pm, arrived 1.26pm
T2 Line, From Auburn Station to Edmondson Park Station, Thursday July 22, departed 4.11pm, arrived 4.50pm
Metro Line, From Macquarie University Station to Epping Station, Friday July 23, departed 9.16am, arrived 9.19am
T9 Line, From Epping Station to Strathfield Station, Friday July 23, departed 9.24am, arrived 9.43am
T2 Line, From Auburn Station to Edmondson Park Station, Friday July 23, departed 4.11pm, arrived 4.50pm
T2 Line, From Edmondson Park Station to Auburn Station, Friday July 23, departed 11.43pm, arrived 12.23am