Map shows how Covid-19 is spreading beyond Sydney and into regional NSW

A map released by health authorities shows the shocking spread of Covid-19 beyond Sydney and into regional NSW.

Covid-19 is continuing to spread beyond Sydney and into regional NSW, prompting further restrictions to be imposed.

A map released by NSW Health shows the full extent of the horror spread as the state recorded a further 356 local cases as at 8pm on Monday.

Of the new locally acquired cases, 121 were from western Sydney, 113 from southwestern Sydney, 40 from Sydney, 38 from southeastern Sydney, 24 Nepean Blue Mountains, 13 from Hunter New England and seven from northern Sydney.

Map showing the extent of the virus spread in NSW. Picture: NSW Health

New restrictions have been introduced for the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina Shire local government areas until 12.01am on August 17.

Stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after July 31.

It will be the same rules that already apply for Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock.

Everyone in those areas must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave and cannot have visitors.

People can have one visitor for carer responsibilities or compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.

People also cannot enter the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire local government areas without a reasonable excuse.

The darkest patches show where the majority of cases have come from. Picture: NSW Health

Chief health officer Kerry Chant gave a detailed breakdown of the situation in regional centres.

“There’s been no additional cases in the Byron northern NSW area in relation to the case I spoke about yesterday (Monday),” she said.

“We had a gentleman and two of his children test positive and there were a number of exposure sites – we have had no further cases linked to that exposure site.

“There’s been no additional cases in Tamworth or Armidale … we have had additional cases in relation to Newcastle and there are a number of exposure venues that have been placed on the website for Newcastle.”

There was also a confirmed case at the St George’s Aged Care Centre in Bexley.

“A confirmed case in a staff member who worked one shift while infectious on one level at the facility,” Dr Chant said.

“Four out of eight residents have tested positive. All eight of the residents were vaccinated and the staff member had received their first dose of vaccination.”

Asked about whether it was time to tighten restrictions to stop people travelling to look at real estate and going to and from their beach houses, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “People know what is right and wrong. We expect people to do the right thing.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard added: “You can’t legislate against stupidity, arrogance and entitlement.”

Chief health officer Kerry Chant gave a detailed update on the situation in regional NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Mr Hazzard said the issue was made difficult because there were some people who had legitimate reasons, such as a doctor who lived in Sydney but went into the regions for work a few days per week.

“It is challenging. Having said that, I’ve said to our legal department to look at what we can do to tighten it up as far as is possible,” he said.

“Clearly, the rule is now that you shouldn’t just travel from one house to another … you should choose the property you are living in and stay there.

“People will still try and do it, which is why the Premier has made the point that we have asked in the epicentre at the moment of this virus – that is at Canterbury-Bankstown – for the police to reinforce the existing rules.

“If people just applied the rules, if they complied with the rules and law and applied an element of common sense and modicum of decency to the rest of the community, we would be fine.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she expects the community to do the right thing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said compliance checks were working.

“In north of the state in the last 24 hours, over 400 vehicles were stopped by police specifically for those breaches that might be occurring in and around public health orders and people travelling without a reasonable excuse,” he said.

“Seventeen infringement notices were issued and seven vehicles were turned around and sent back to locations where they came from because they had no reasonable excuse.

“It’s a challenging time … but NSW Police won’t back down in their endeavour to ensure people comply with the public health orders right across the state.

“Right across this state there are now risks and threats with people that breach public health orders.”