What Kerry Chant REALLY thinks about Sydney's 9pm-5am curfew – and why it may not help stop the city's Covid outbreak

NSW's top health official Doctor Kerry Chant has admitted she has 'mixed thoughts' about the introduction of a curfew in the most Covid-hit parts of Sydney.

From midnight on Monday, residents from 12 local government areas of concern across Greater Sydney will be subjected to a strict curfew from 9pm to 5am.  

Anyone who lives in one of the LGAs can only leave home if they are authorised workers, or for medical care or emergencies. 

On Friday, after the state recorded 644 new infections and four deaths, Dr Chant was asked by reporters about her thoughts on the curfew.

Dr Kerry Chant (pictured right) has admitted she has 'mixed thoughts' about the introduction of a curfew in some parts of Sydney during the current Covid outbreak

'The evidence around curfew is mixed, but I also think that it sends a significant signal about the crisis we are facing,' she said.

'I personally don't want to leave any stone unturned.'

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has waited almost two months to impose a curfew in Sydney, but Dr Chant avoided follow-up questions about whether she had previously recommended such a restriction to the state leader. 

'What is important to focus on is the fact that the premier has asked us to provide the best advice, and I am totally committed to these additional measures,' she said.

'This is about using all the levers we have to make sure people do the right thing.' 

She said the decision to implement a curfew was based on feedback from health authorities that some Sydneysiders were still illegally visiting each other's homes.

'A small number of people are also still mixing across households and so we suspect that the curfew could assist in that,' she said.

Other measures introduced include mandatory face masks for anyone leaving their residence in NSW, with exercise the only accepted time to be not wearing a mask outdoors.

Permits are now also required to leave Greater Sydney and NSW Police have been given increased powers to enforce lockdown rules.  

A total of 12 LGA's across Sydney will be see residents under curfew from 9pm-5am each day from August 23

Ms Berejiklian said the new restrictions were introduced after 'the sudden escalation of cases and secondly the feedback from police about a handful of people flagrantly disregarding the rules'.

Dr Chant meanwhile said she has no plans to walk away from her demanding role, and that she was 'committed to seeing this outbreak behind us'.

After reporting the four Covid deaths overnight, Dr Chant went onto deliver an emotional plea to for Sydneysiders to protect their loved ones from the deadly virus.

As part of the new restrictions, face masks must be worn by all Sydneysiders once their leave homes - except when exercising

NSW Police have also been given increased powers to monitor people ignoring lockdown laws (pictured, people exercising in Sydney's east)

 'All of us have a responsibility to do out part to protect each other and our loved ones,' she said.

 'We can get on top of this, we can reduce the rate of increase, and we can reduce the number of people who are seriously ill, and who will die. But it is going to be hard, and it requires us to redouble our efforts.'

There has been a total of 65 deaths since the start of the outbreak on June 16 and the number of lives lost in NSW since the pandemic started is 121.

Restrictions tightened across NSW

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the Greater Sydney lockdown - which was due to end on August 28 - has been extended until the end of September.

A string of new restrictions have also been introduced for the 12 local government areas in south-west and western Sydney.

The suburbs affected include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and Penrith.

- A 9pm to 5am curfew will be enforced. Only authorised workers - including emergency and medical staff - will be allowed to leave their homes during the time period.

- Outdoor exercise will be limited to one hour.

- Authorised workers allowed to leave their LGA will be required to carry a work permit from August 28.

- Authorised workers will not be allowed to leave their LGA unless they have received their first dose of the vaccine or their worksite has set up rapid antigen testing from August 30.

- Click and collect will only be available for the following stores: garden centres, plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies.

- All exams and other education or professional development related activities will be moved online. This does not include the Higher School Certificate for Year 12 students.

The face mask mandate has also been extended across New South Wales:

- All residents will be required to wear a face mask when outdoors unless they are exercising.