Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has called on residents of the city to be disciplined during the current lockdown in order to help "save us a lot of heartache in the long run".
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Restrictions have been tightened on exercise and funerals for locked-down residents of Greater Sydney and its surrounds.
Cr Bradbery said the council was "extremely concerned about the virus getting into Wollongong".
Therefore, he urged everyone to abide by the latest public health orders, especially those related to exercise, and to be "disciplined about the way we utilise our public spaces".
"Wollongong City Council will try and keep our parks and playgrounds open for as long as possible, but it really does require discipline on the part of the community, otherwise we'll have to shut them down," Cr Bradbery said.
The Mercury asked the mayor if was supportive of the Wollongong LGA being included in the lockdown at this stage.
"At this stage, yes, in as much that if we can bring this virus under control, which is the most important thing at present, it'll save us a lot of heartache in the long run," he said.
"I realise there's a cost involved, in terms of its impact upon small business and business generally.
"But also, (we have to consider) the implications of this for the public health system being overwhelmed, and also its threats to our major employment hubs such as the steelworks, hospitals, aged care facilities, educational institutions and so on.
"I realise there's a cost, but also the benefit of being disciplined means we can bring this virus under control."
Earlier this week, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District announced that fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 had again been detected in the Port Kembla sewage treatment system.
"There were indications through the sewage works that there is the virus in the community," Cr Bradbery said.
"We don't know to what extent, but at the same time discipline around the community is required to prevent any possible spread.
"It requires everyone to play their part and do their bit in terms of helping us."
Of the 44 new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, at least 29 were in the community for part or all of their infectious period.
It is the highest number of NSW daily infections since the pandemic's first wave in early 2020 and Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday told reporters the number of cases in the community was a significant concern.
"That is the number really concerning us," Ms Berejiklian said.
"It tells us that in the next few days, those numbers are going to go up.
"This is the opposite of where we need or want the numbers to trend."
As a result, locked-down residents from 5pm will be banned from exercising more than 10km from their home, and only in groups of two people.
Funerals in these areas will also be capped at 10 people.
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