- NSW’s COVID-19 crisis continues, with 239 new cases recorded on Thursday — smashing previous daily case records
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian tightened travel restrictions following the huge jump in infections, announcing 5 kilometre limits
- Masks are also mandatory at all times when out in public, with the new rules applying to residents in Sydney’s southern and western suburbs
- Ms Berejiklian says she expects case numbers to rise further in the coming days, as 70 of the 293 new cases were infectious while in the community
- Sydney’s five-week lockdown is due to last for another four weeks, as authorities grapple to contain the Delta strain of COVID-19
NSW’s COVID-19 crisis continues with 239 new cases recorded — breaking the state’s daily case record.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the record-breaking infection numbers on Thursday, along with a number of new restrictions.
Ms Berejiklian has tightened travel restrictions, announcing residents in Sydney’s southern and western suburbs are allowed to travel only five kilometres from their homes when carrying out essential tasks.
Masks will also be mandatory for all residents in the affected local government areas whenever they step out in public.
“If you’re in a local government area of concern — and at the moment there are eight of them — you need to make sure you wear a mask now at all times,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The NSW Premier explained case numbers were likely to increase in the coming days as at least 70 of the new infections were active in the community.
“Based on those numbers we can only assume that things are likely to get worse before they get better given the quantum of people infectious in the community,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Sydney’s five-week-long lockdown has already been extended for an additional four weeks, as NSW authorities grapple to contain the Delta strain of COVID-19.
Close to 200 people were in hospital in NSW with the virus, with 54 of those in the Intensive Care Unit, while an additional two people died from COVID-19 overnight.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has urged young people to get vaccinated, stating many of those in hospital were under the age of 40.
“We’ve got two in their teens, eight in their 20s, four in their 30s and three in their 40s. It’s not only an old person’s disease,” Dr Chant said.
“So everyone should discuss vaccination. My message is get vaccinated.”