NSW Covid updates: One new death, 89 cases

A new support package has been announced for businesses in lockdown, as NSW recorded 89 new cases. Read Tuesday's blog.

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A man aged in his 70s from Sydney's eastern suburbs has died from Covid-19 as the state recorded 89 new cases. 

Of the new infections, 55 of those were in isolation but 21 were infectious in the community.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said more than three quarters of today's cases were close family contacts of previous cases. 

The majority of today's cases, 64,  were detected in Sydney's southwest. A new case has also been detected in a Bondi Junction unit block which is under police guard with nine infections now identified at the complex among five households.

There are currently 65 people in hospital with the virus - 21 are in intensive care and four are on ventilation.

NSW recorded 89 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/GMaUFsS56b

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021

Residents who leave the Fairfield LGA for work must now get tested every three days. Residents will not need to isolate until they receive a result but must carry evidence of testing as police will be patrolling the area.

The rule will also apply to workers who leave Greater Sydney for work in regional NSW following a new case in Goulburn.

The change to the Public Health Order comes into effect from 12.01am on Wednesday.

Follow live updates below.

Updates

8:00 pm July 13, 2021

Victoria’s fury over NSW support

Erin Lyons

The Prime Minister has been accused of favouring NSW after offering a financial relief to struggling businesses during the latest outbreak.

The Victorian Government released a scathing statement on Tuesday afternoon which stated residents were “sick and tired” of having to beg for help and that the support for NSW represented a “double standard”.

“Everyone in Australia believes that people in Sydney and NSW deserve every possible support as they battle a second wave and a long lockdown,” the statement said.

“But Victorians are rightly sick and tired of having to beg for every scrap of support from the federal government.”

“It shouldn’t take a crisis in Sydney for the Prime Minister to take action but we are seeing the same double standard, time and time again.”

Read the full story here.

7:40 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

How to get free beer once Sydney lockdown ends

Kelsey Hogan

Clare Armstrong

Free beer for anyone who has been vaccinated — that’s the pledge from Clubs NSW, which intends to pin the state government to a vaccine target and inspire the state to vaccinate.

But now it’s up to the Berejiklian Government to set it.

Clubs NSW and Australia CEO Josh Landis said he is “calling on the NSW government to name the percentage of vaccinations needed” to allow us to get back to normal life without the threat of continued lockdowns.

Read the full story here.

Batch Brewing Company owner Andrew Fineran (left) and Clubs NSW CEO Josh Landis have come up with an idea to offer free beer for those who have got the vaccine on the day Sydney lockdown ends. Picture: Jonathan Ng

7:21 pm July 13, 2021

Tasmania imposes new restrictions on NSW

Lauren Ferri

Tasmania has announced tough new restrictions, refusing anyone from the Fairfield LGA to enter the state.

Tasmania's Director of Public Health has said from midnight tonight Fairfield will be classified a Level One high-risk area.

Anyone who has been in Fairfield in the past 14-days will not be allowed to enter Tasmania, including returning travellers.

Other places in NSW, Victoria and South Australia are also high-risk following further spread of the Sydney outbreak.

7:13 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Pregnant nurse overjoyed at Covid exemption

Lachlan Leeming

A pregnant nurse’s plea for health authorities to allow her to see her husband as he battles a severe brain injury in hospital has been heard, after a desperate appeal for an exemption was granted.

An overjoyed Maddie Morris confirmed to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday evening she would be allowed to see husband Anthony at Westmead Hospital, after the Western Sydney Local Health District overturned its previous decision rejecting her application to see him.

“It’s bloody brilliant…it’s such a weight off my shoulders,” Mrs Morris, who is 24-weeks pregnant with the couple’s first child, told The Telegraph.

Read the full story here.

Pregnant nurse Maddie Morris has been granted an exemption allowing her to now visit her husband in hospital.. Picture: Supplied

6:46 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Roxy Jacenko denies "flouting lockdown rules"

Mibengé Nsenduluka

Celebrity publicist Roxy Jacenko is being investigated for allegedly breaching lockdown rules but she maintains she is innocent.

Jacenko revealed she was visited by police twice at her Sweaty Betty office in Paddington over concerns she has been “flouting the rules” while operating her business during lockdown.

She denies any wrongdoing.

Read the full story here.

Roxy Jacenko at her offices Sweaty Betty PR in Paddington last year. Picture: Britta Campion

6:37 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Major retailer closes all NSW stores

Lauren Ferri

Major Australian retailer Valleygirl has announced it will be closing all retail stores across NSW's hotspots.

"With the Covid-19 situation continuing to progress in NSW, we have made the decision to close our NSW stores in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour until further notice," the retailer wrote on Instagram.

"The health and safety of our community remains our highest priority at this difficult time."

The retailer said it aims to reopen the stores once the Covid outbreak is under control.

"We aim to re-open our NSW stores as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so," the retailer said.

"If there are any changes, we will update you all accordingly."

"All stores in other states remain open and we are trading as usual with safe measures."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRQmawrj3EA

6:29 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Victorian government "sick and tired" of having to "beg for support"

Lauren Ferri

According to the ABC, the Victorian Government has issued a statement following the announcement of the national support package for workers and businesses in NSW this afternoon.

"Everyone in Australia believes that people in Sydney and New South Wales deserve every possible support as they battle a second wave and a long lockdown," a spokesperson for the Victorian government said.

"But Victorians are rightly sick and tired of having to beg for every scrap of support from the Federal Government.

"It shouldn't take a crisis in Sydney for the Prime Minister to take action but we are seeing the same double standard time and time again. His job is not to be the Prime Minister for NSW."

"We had to shame the Federal Government into doing their job and providing income support for Victorian workers when we battled the Delta strain earlier this year. Their position at the time was a disgrace."

"If they had bothered to think about this at the time and work with Victoria, they'd already have had a practical framework in place when NSW went into lockdown and more people would have got the support they need earlier."

6:13 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Shopping centre criticised for not deep cleaning after COVID case

Jake McCallum

A popular suburban shopping centre visited by a person diagnosed with COVID-19 two times last week has been criticised for not closing for deep cleaning after being notified by NSW Health of the incident.

Lennox Village Shopping Centre at Emu Plains was notified on Monday of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 visiting the centre — including Woolworths — between 4pm and 4.30pm on July 6, and 3.45pm and 4.15pm on July 9, with anyone attending this venue during this time considered a casual contact.

A representative of the centre argued it did not need to be closed and deep cleaning conducted as a “casual contact visited the centre, not someone with COVID-19 themselves”.

You can read the full story here.

6:12 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Financial support payments "aren't enough": Labor

Lauren Ferri

Members of the Labor party, Richard Marles, Tony Burke, Jim Chalmers and Matt Keogh have issued a statement responding to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's financial support announcement earlier today.

They say it is not good enough.

“After leaving businesses and workers in limbo for the past two weeks scrambling to work out a plan, what Scott Morrison has announced today is not enough to give businesses any security and does not provide support for those who have already lost their job," the statement reads.

"Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have not provided support that guarantees the crucial link between employees and business which was the most important element of JobKeeper.

"Labor is also concerned the 40 per cent subsidy may not be sufficient incentive for some employers to keep workers on and avoid stand-downs.

"We’ve always said that any support should be responsible, temporary, tailored to the economic conditions, and targeted to those in genuine need.

"Australians are once again paying the price for Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg ripping away help too quickly and rolling out vaccines too slowly.

"They have not provided businesses the certainty and security they have sought.

"Businesses deserve a meaningful response, not policy on the run, with no clear indication if there will be rental relief for small business.

"Despite their own Budget assuming more damaging lockdowns as a direct result of their bungled vaccine roll-out, the Morrison Government has failed to plan for them.”

6:04 pm July 13, 2021 Highlight

Fairfield mayor slams Gladys' "monumental stuff up"

Lauren Ferri

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone has slammed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for urging residents to get tested every three days if they work out of the area.

Mr Carbone filmed a live Facebook video from the Fairfield Showground – now a 24 hour testing clinic – showing the amount of cars lining up to get tested.

"Congratulations Gladys, you have done our city a disservice and just stopped any person that doesn’t work outside the area, who genuinely has symptoms and needs a test, from getting tested," he wrote.

"I have been notified that some residents that are genuinely sick have left the lines after 1 and half hours and returned home. Our testing clinics are in chaos and panic tonight and this cannot go on for days without the proper resources."

"You made an announcement where 40,000 people that work outside the area need mandatory testing every 3 days."

"This announcement without any consultation with us and you treated our community with no respect, without the resources to cater for tens of thousand of tests tonight and the same every night this week."

"Your monumental stuff up in letting the virus free in the community for over 4 weeks since the limo driver caught the virus in the inner city, has meant that now Fairfield residents are bearing the brunt of the virus, financially and mentally."

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone has shared a video of the lines for testing at Fairfield Showground. Picture: Facebook