NSW Covid updates: Sydney in lockdown for another month

The NSW crisis cabinet has signed off on another month of lockdown after the state recordsed 172 new cases. 

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Lockdown will be extended by four weeks but crisis cabinet resolved on Tuesday night not to dramatically tighten any restrictions to bring cases down.

Instead, as NSW recorded 172 cases – the highest of the outbreak – the government made a plan to lift the construction ban and introduce a “singles bubble”, despite concerns about mobility from the chief health officer. Restrictions will remain in place in Shellharbour and the Central Coast despite lobbying from local MPs for them to be freed.

The government also closely considered using rapid antigen testing on Year 12 students to get them back into the classroom and is also considering a similar rapid testing ­regime for essential workers.

But four days after declaring a “national emergency” Premier ­Gladys Berejiklian stopped short of instituting any further restrictions on movement such as a curfew or stricter distance limitation.

Ms Berejiklian warned on Tuesday Greater Sydney faced an “extremely difficult” few weeks, saying that easing restrictions “too early” could “waste” the pain of Sydney’s lockdown.

NSW recorded 172 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Of these locally acquired cases, 85 are linked to a known case or cluster – 66 are household contacts and 19 are close contacts – the source of infection for 87 cases is under investigation pic.twitter.com/yS2PLDxXKw

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 27, 2021

The government will embark on a massive push for vaccinations in the worst affected parts of Sydney, but Ms Berejiklian appeared to walk away from a proposal announced on Friday to delay second Pfizer doses to get more first doses in the community.

Construction is expected to return from July 31, but will be banned in the five hot spot LGAs of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Blacktown and Cumberland.  Tradies in those LGAs will not be able to partake in construction.

The singles bubble comes amid concerns for the mental health of hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders now facing an indefinite lockdown. The proposal was pushed by Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello and supported by Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.

Chief health officer Kerry Chant raised concerns about “mobility” ­encouraged by the bubble, and Deputy Premier John Barilaro ­argued against its design.NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty on Tuesday said antigen tests could be rolled out in “businesses or various industries,” with further ­announcements expected in days.

There were 172 new cases reported on Tuesday, the worst day of this outbreak so far. At least 60 cases were in the community for their ­entire infectious period.

Anyone over 18 in NSW is now being urged to get a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.  Certain pharmacies will offer the jab to all adults from Wednesday.

NSW Health vaccination clinics will start giving AstraZeneca to over 18s from Friday.

Read Tuesday's live blog below.