Sydneysiders wake to stricter rules as case numbers soar

Sydney residents have woken to even tougher lockdown measures. These are the new restrictions you need to know.

Sydneysiders have woken to their first day of tightened restrictions as the city grapples with an escalating Covid crisis.

NSW had its worst day since the pandemic began on Thursday, recording a staggering 239 new cases with more than 60 of those in the community for their entire infectious period.

The city’s west and southwest continue to cop the brunt of the cases.

As a result, Gladys Berejiklian revealed several new measures that came into force from 12.01am on Friday.

Residents in Fairfield, Liverpool, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown must now wear a mask any time they step outside their home.

From 12.01am on Friday, 30 July 2021, residents of the eight Local Government Areas of concern (Blacktown, Campbelltown,...

Posted by NSW Health on Wednesday, July 28, 2021

They are also banned from travelling more than 5km from their home.

Ms Berejiklian said that travel ban applies for shopping, exercise and anyone who has formed a singles bubble.

The same rules apply to essential workers who work in any of those local government areas but live in different parts of Sydney, meaning they will take the restrictions home with them.

Ms Berejiklian said while there were eight local government areas of concern, more may be added and some taken off the list as the crisis continues.

“If you step foot outside your household, you need to wear a mask at all times,” she said of those eight council areas.

“We’re seeing too much evidence of people who are not wearing masks when they need to, or if they are outdoors, coming into contact with other people and not having a mask.

She said residents can only travel further than 5km under “exceptional circumstances” and that the tough new rules were brought in because people were “using the excuse of exercising or doing another activity” within 10km to “get around or breach the health orders”.

“That can’t continue in those communities where the virus is circulating at the rate at which it is,” she said.

New rules have been introduced. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“Part of the reason is firstly by reducing the radius to 5km within those areas of concern, it gives police greater ability to do their job and the mask enforcement has a benefit in that if you casually come into contact with someone else and you’re not wearing a mask, it increases transferability.”

Other measures include dishing out $500 fines to people who leave their homes anywhere in Sydney but are not carrying a mask with them.

“You must carry a face mask with you at all times whenever you leave your home or temporary accommodation,” a statement from the health department reads.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Thursday he had requested greater powers from the government and promised that thousands of extra police would be on the streets of Sydney.

“The powers particularly will focus on those people who are not doing the right thing,” he said.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott also said people complying with health orders have “had a gutful” of others doing the wrong thing.