NSW Covid: 363 Sydney and regional suburbs deemed ‘high risk’

NSW Health is extremely concerned about Covid cases outside of southwest Sydney with a push for testing as transmission spreads to regional areas.

Thousands of residents in 363 fresh suburbs of concern across NSW are being urged to get tested for Covid-19.

NSW Health authorities are growing more concerned about cases of the virus arising outside of southwest Sydney and are pushing for more testing across the state.

Top NSW public health official Jeremy McAnulty has issued a warning to residents living in Seven Hills, Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill, Haymarket, and the local government areas of Cumberland, Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Georges River, Bayside, Sutherland and Wollongong — totalling 363 suburbs.

Dr Jeremy McAnulty issued a warning to residents living in 363 suburbs across the state. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

He also issued a warning to 53 suburbs in regional areas urging anyone in Orange or Coffs Harbour to be tested even with mild symptoms.

“It’s so important that people come forward for testing so we can uncover cases quickly,” Dr McAnulty said.

“We’re particularly concerned about certain parts of Sydney, as you know, and parts of the country.”

“Please come forward for testing even if you have the mildest of symptoms.”

NSW recorded 124 new locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday from 86,000 tests – the highest number since the outbreak began on June 16.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 48 cases had been active in the community – also the biggest spike since the beginning of the outbreak.

“Given the number of infectious (people) in the community, I’m expecting case numbers to go up even higher,” the premier said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced 124 new cases on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Ms Berejiklian said most of the people who were infectious out in the community were in areas “where people have to be” such as buying groceries, at the pharmacy or doing essential work.

Changes have been announced for health and aged-care workers living in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA beginning Friday.

All health and aged-care workers who live in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA are only allowed to work outside the LGA if they have been tested for Covid-19 in the previous 72 hours.

Of the 124 locally acquired cases majority remain in the southwest Sydney area, with 42 from the South Western Sydney Local Health District and 40 from Western Sydney.

Meanwhile, 18 cases were from the Sydney local health district, eight are from south-eastern Sydney, two from Northern Sydney, one from the Illawarra-Shoalhaven and one from Nepean Blue Mountains.