Hundreds of suburbs in Sydney’s southwest on high alert as Covid outbreak spikes again

A huge portion of Sydney’s southwest has been listed as ‘areas of concern for increased testing’ as cases soar towards triple figures again.

Health authorities are scrambling to test a major portion of Sydney’s population in the southwest and southeast after about 270 suburbs were declared as “areas of concern”.

Chief health officer Kerry Chant listed a number of suburbs and Local Government Areas where her team are urging residents to come forward for testing — even if their symptoms are minimal.

Those suburbs include Camden, Lakemba, Mt Druitt and Rooty Hill, while the council areas include Cumberland, Fairfield, Campbelltown, Bayside, Sutherland Shire, Georges River, Liverpool and Canterbury Bankstown.

But Dr Chant warned residents the rapidly evolving crisis means those beyond the 270 suburbs needed to be cautious as the state recorded 97 new cases on Friday.

“We need to remember that the cases we are seeing today reflect transmission evidence for five days ago,” she told reporters.

Sydney’s southwest is on high alert. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“You can’t go on the basis of where I have told you is a hot spot today. That may be different next week. So every time you leave the house this weekend, please consider that the person you may come in contact with has Covid.”

The top doctor urged residents to stay home this weekend at all costs.

“This virus spreads so quickly,” Dr Chant said. “By the time you get tested, if you are leaving it for two days or three days into the symptom onset, you’ve already impacted those most near and dear to you.

“Please get tested as soon as possible.”