100 residents locked into Blacktown apartment building due to Covid outbreak

Residents of an apartment building in Sydney’s west will be locked in for two weeks after multiple cases of Covid-19 were reported.

Residents of an apartment building at Blacktown in Sydney’s west have described their confusion after being locked indoors after multiple people tested positive for Covid-19.

NSW Health is aware of five cases at an apartment building on Devitt St, Blacktown, with police called in to help roll out an urgent response.

“NSW Police Force are providing support to NSW Health who are responding to several Covid-19 cases in an apartment block at Blacktown,” a statement from police read.

“NSW Police were asked to be on site in case assistance was required.”

One resident, Michelle, told 2GB radio that residents did not yet know how they were going to be delivered groceries.

More than 100 residents at an apartment complex in Blacktown are in lockdown after multiple Covid cases were confirmed at the site. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

“It’s a bit daunting, a bit scary,” she told Ben Fordham. “I can see a lot of police outside and we don’t know what’s going on right now.

“I see lots of camera crews and a police presence as well as security guards.

“All (health officials) have told us is to leave our rubbish by 9am every morning.

“We haven’t been told about police sticking around for two weeks; we are assuming that at the moment.

“(We have heard) nothing further on medication, groceries and how things will be delivered to us yet.”

Michelle said there was police tape around the building and security guards had joined police in guarding the block.

A resident at an apartment complex in Blacktown stands on her balcony as police manage the building. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

A police van was parked outside the building overnight, while residents were not allowed to leave.

Pictures taken on Tuesday morning show the footpath in front of the building cordoned off with police tape, with an officer sitting at a desk set up in front of a police van.

NSW Health has been contacted for comment.

Nine News reporter James Wilson posted on social media that more than 100 residents were affected by the lockdown, with everyone tested overnight.

“Pathology are on site processing the swabs,” he wrote. “Police will guard this building for the next two weeks.”

Police outside an apartment complex in Blacktown that has recorded multiple Covid cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Blacktown was listed by NSW Health on Sunday as one of the five problematic LGAs.

There are 93 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Blacktown LGA.

All workers are banned from leaving the Blacktown LGA unless they are an essential worker.

NSW recorded another 145 cases of Covid-19 on Monday.

Since the beginning of the outbreak on June 16, more than 2200 people have been infected with the Delta strain across the state.

NSW has also recorded 10 deaths linked to the outbreak.

There are 156 cases being treated in hospital, with 44 people in intensive care.

Of those in ICU, 18 are being ventilated.