‘Further action’: 110 Sydney suburbs urged to stay home due to virus concerns

Residents in more than 100 Sydney suburbs have been urged not to leave the house due to fears the virus is spreading from people visiting family.

The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the state government is considering “further actions” for three local government areas as case numbers soar.

Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown government areas, which include 110 Sydney suburbs, have been put on alert.

Of particular concern are eight suburbs: Bossley Park, Smithfield, Fairfield, West Hoxton, Bass Hill, St Johns Park, Canley Vale and Greenfield Park.

“Can I say to the communities in those area, many have a similar background to me, please don't mingle with family,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I haven’t seen my parents since the lockdown started – it is hard.

“You might think you are doing the right thing by babysitting other (people’s) children or whatever but the key message in the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas is please do not leave the house.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the virus is spreading between families. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

She warned the virus was spreading within families.

The Premier said she was concerned about several cases which came through after the 8pm cut off, before foreshadowing a spike.

These cases will be included in Thursday's numbers.

“When people do the wrong thing it does have consequences when you have a virus this contagious,” she said.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said the suburbs of major concern were Bossley Park, Smithfield, Fairfield, West Hoxton, Bass Hill, St Johns Park, Canley Vale and Greenfield Park in the city’s south and west.

“This is really a crunch time for the community where the destiny is in your hands,” she told reporters.

“And the communities of southwestern Sydney are a vibrant, connected community and you have tackled previous outbreaks and done so well.”

People are turning out to get tested. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

But she urged all Sydneysiders to stay “on the ball”.

“I also don't want the rest of the community, of greater metropolitan Sydney, to take their eye off the ball,” Dr Chant said.

“Anyone else in the broader area, please continue to come forward and get tested. Look at those venues of concern. Please follow the public health advice.”

She agreed many of the cases in Sydney’s south and west were coming from family groups or connected households but some of those connections were “loose”.

“What we need to do is work on establishing the degree of those connections and then do a ring of testing around those connected individuals to make sure that there’s been no further escape into the broader community,” Dr Chant said.

“Because of that, we really do not want people to be moving about.”

Another 27 cases were recorded on Wednesday, including 14 which were infectious while in the community.

The citywide lockdown has also been extended for another week, the premier confirmed.

Ms Berejiklian said the state government was working out a plan around what rules and regulations would be in place once lockdown lifts.

“So we want to provide certainty to businesses. We know businesses have to plan ahead when they are taking bookings, when they are ordering perishable items,” she said.

The lockdown was scheduled to lift on Friday night but case numbers have shown no signs of dwindling.