Stay-at-home orders in NSW are being tightened in three key suburbs of Sydney, retail is being restricted and construction paused as the state records a COVID-19 death and 111 new locally-acquired cases.
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From midnight on Saturday, residents in Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown or Liverpool local government areas are not allowed to leave their council area until July 30 (see the full list of guidelines below).
The only exception for residents from those areas is for those in health and emergency services.
Read more: Together we can survive the COVID crisis
Only critical retail such as supermarkets and pharmacies will be allowed to remain open from Sunday. Other retailers will have to do click and collect or takeaway, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Another rule in place from Sunday until July 30 is that construction, large or small, will shut.
All office workers and others working from home should not be pressured to come into work and employers can incur a $10,000 fine if they pressure employees to come in.
"I can't remember a time when our state has been challenged to such an extent," Ms Berejiklian said
"Not a single one of these decisions was taken lightly."
She said at least 29 of the fresh cases were infectious in the community and it's this number that is "stubborn".
"We're not managing to get that curve to come down," she said.
NSW recorded 97 new local virus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, with at least 46 out in the community for part or all of their infectious period.
Health chief Dr Kerry Chant also confirmed a Sydney man in his 80s as the state's latest victim to succumb to the virus.
The outbreak has passed 1000 cases since it began on June 16.
Guidelines announced by NSW Health today _
From 11.59pm on Saturday, 17 July:
Retail premises will be required to close ('click and collect', takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers);
- Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies;
- Pharmacies and chemists;
- Petrol stations;
- Car hire;
- Banks and financial institutions;
- Hardware, nurseries and building supplies;
- Agricultural and rural supplies;
- Pet supplies;
- Post offices and newsagents; and Office supplies.
In addition to the stay-at-home rules, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury- Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs cannot leave their LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers (including aged and disability workers). Where those workers do need to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested every three days, even if they do not have symptoms; Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times. They must be worn when you are working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food; and All carpooling to be stopped unless among members of the same household.
From 12.01am on Monday, 19 July:
All construction to be paused; and Non-urgent maintenance, including cleaning services, and repair work on
residential premises to be paused.
From 12.01am on Wednesday, 21 July:
Employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so, failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.
There has been no change in restrictions for regional NSW.
