Wollongong and Shellharbour residents who work more than 50 kilometres outside the lockdown area will have to undergo COVID-19 tests each week, under new rules announced on Tuesday.
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The public health order now stipulates that anyone who lives or is staying in the Greater Sydney area - including Wollongong and Shellharbour - cannot work more than 50 kilometres away unless they have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous seven days.
This means essential workers can go as far as Huskisson or Newcastle, for example, without needing a test.
The rule will come into force from Monday, July 19.
Workers must be able to produce proof of the test, but they do not need to receive their results before going to work.
The below map from the NSW government shows the 50km radius around Greater Sydney
There is a time-limited exemption in place that means from July 14 to 18, workers from Greater Sydney can continue to work more than 50 kilometres from the boundary of the lockdown area if they have not been tested, but they must take reasonable steps to do so before July 19.
Workers from Greater Sydney who are outside of the region for work must still comply with the stay-at-home order.
Employers more than 50 kilometres from the lockdown area cannot allow a person to work at their premises if they are from the Greater Sydney area unless they have had a test in the seven days prior.
Fairfield residents who work outside their local government area - even within Greater Sydney - must now get tested every three days.
Read more: One death, 89 new COVID cases in NSW
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this surveillance testing was introduced to prevent people unknowingly spreading COVID-19.
"Through an abundance of caution, if you are an essential worker leaving Fairfield local government area or leaving Sydney and going to the regions, and you have no symptoms, we still want you to get tested in case you have the virus and don't have symptoms," Ms Berejiklian said.
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