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"We won't see the effect of the harsher restrictions for another four or five days, but I know they're there to be had if all of us stick together and work hard," says NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
NSW is yet to see the delayed impacts of stricter lockdowns announced over the weekend for Greater Sydney and its surrounding regions, with 98 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported to 8pm last night including 20 people who were infectious in the community for more than a day.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state is "up to the task" of beating the virus, but greater awareness was needed in the community about asymptomatic transmission between households, particularly in Southwestern Sydney where two-thirds of cases were recorded.
"We're seeing so many cases of families going through distress because they're moving from household to household thinking they're doing the right thing, but unfortunately even when you don't have symptoms you might not know you're carrying the virus," the Premier said, adding health experts note the Delta virus makes you more likely to spread COVID-19 while asymptomatic.
She has also urged businesses and individuals affected by government decisions over the last few weeks or over the weekend to apply for immediate disaster payments on Services Australia or business support grants via Service NSW.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says it is pleasing to see "the venues have been narrowed and that people appear to be taking the health advice about limiting the time spent anywhere, and also not going out when you're sick".
There are currently 82 COVID cases admitted to hospital in the state with 24 in intensive care.
Dr Chant listed several key testing sites within the current lockdown areas of Greater Sydney the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas (LGAs), although some were outside those areas including Coffs Harbour, Mittagong and Burradoo.
The police reported 201 infringements over the 24-hour period, including 121 in regional NSW.
Over the weekend the NSW Government announced a pause on construction activity for lockdown areas, along with restrictions on repairs, maintenance and cleaning except for health, safety or emergency reasons.
The government has also mandated that most retail premises in the lockdown areas would be closed as of yesterday, except for retailers that provide the following products and services:
- supermarkets
- grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable, seafood and other food retailers)
- kiosks and other small food and drink premises
- petrol stations
- liquor stores
- chemists providing health, medical, maternity and baby supplies
- banks and financial institutions
- hardware, building supplies
- landscaping material supplies
- agricultural and rural supplies
- pet supplies
- post offices and newsagents
- office supplies
- garden centres and plant nurseries
- vehicle hire premises, not including the premises at which vehicles are sold;
- shops that predominantly carry out repairs of mobile phones.
Updated at 11:42am AEST on 19 July 2021.
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