After weeks of lockdown, cases continue to soar across Sydney and now a desperate Premier will pay hotspot residents to do the right thing.
news.com.au
August 14, 2021 6:52AM
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Last updated August 14, 2021 8:34AM AEST
Sydney residents are bracing for the announcement of harsh new restrictions as an increasingly frantic Premier struggles to contain the crisis.
Gladys Berejiklian is tipped to announce a raft of tough new rules today after the state recorded 390 new infections yesterday, the worst tally yet.
The crackdown will reportedly see fines jacked up to $5000 for rule breakers, while those who need to isolate as they await a test result will be paid $320 to stay at home.
The singles bubble will also be significantly tightened, and nobody will be permitted to leave Greater Sydney without a permit.
Read on for the latest Covid news and updates.
Live Updates
Back to AMA NSW President Dr Danielle McMullen for a moment, who has told the ABC she supports NSW’s tough new measures set to be announced this morning.
She said harsher restrictions were needed as the state struggles to contain the spread of the Delta variant.
“The speed with which it can spread is keeping contact tracers, health systems, and, of course, government decision-makers really on their toes and racing to keep up with it across the country,” she said.
“We are supportive of those changes and anything else the government thinks they could do to really limit movement of people from Sydney out into the regions, to limit regional movement as much as possible, and to improve compliance with the stay-at-home orders because the numbers, as we’ve all seen in Sydney, really aren’t under control yet and our health system is straining with the numbers we are seeing.”
Victoria has recorded 21 new Covid cases overnight.
All are linked to previously reported cases, and 11 were in quarantine during their infectious period.
Reported yesterday: 21 new local cases and 0 new cases acquired overseas.
– 29,490 vaccine doses were administered
– 33,675 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/kqTEULCT4M— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 13, 2021
Two schools in Dubbo are currently closed for cleaning after students tested positive to Covid.
As the virus continues to spread across regional NSW, there are particular concerns for the Walgett and Dubbo areas.
Those regions have high Indigenous populations with many people also having underlying health issues.
Those factors, combined with the low vaccination rate among Indigenous people in the area, have leaders concerned the outbreak could lead to deaths.
The list of exposure sites in the Victorian capital has ballooned to 450 as hopes of the lockdown ending on Thursday fade.
The grim list includes a range public transport routes and shops, as well as the popular Chadstone Shopping Centre.
A string of apartment blocks are also on the list, including the Ritz Mansions block in St Kilda and the Bosisto Street Residential Apartment Complex in Richmond.
AMA NSW President Dr Danielle McMullen has told ABC News “mystery” cases popping up in the ACT and Victoria had experts worried.
“It is really concerning. Obviously, if we look back at NSW nine weeks ago, we remember that time where we had a handful of cases, but a number of them infectious in the community and no clear source of transmission,” she said today.
“It is very easy for the Delta strain to get out of control in those sorts of situations and so I do think that other governments need to learn from us and to and to take quick, decisive action, and so does the community.
” I know Australians are all tired of Covid. We all wish it was over and we are all missing our loved ones, but across these areas that are affected – the ACT, Victoria, here in NSW – we need to be quickly and strongly taking action to lock down and get numbers under control.”
Traces of Covid have been found in wastewater in Broken Hill as the virus continues to spread through regional NSW.
The traces were detected at a treatment plant, sparking a warning from NSW Health.
“Everyone is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received,” NSW Health announced in a statement.
There are no known active cases in Broken Hill.
A man has been charged after he allegedly sent a fake positive Covid text to a group chat, forcing the suspension of workers in Dubbo.
Police have been told the man underwent a Covid test on Thursday and received a text message notifying him of a negative result about 6am on Friday.
But the man allegedly altered the message to display a positive result before sending it to a group chat, where one of the contacts notified his workplace believing he was a close contact.
The worksite suspended work for the day and instructed its workers to get tested for the virus as a result.
The man is due to appear in Dubbo Local Court on September 27.
As a quick recap, more than 12 million Australians are now under lockdown as the Delta strain wreaks havoc across the nation.
In NSW, that includes Greater Sydney and large pockets of regional Australia including the Hunter and Newcastle regions, Tamworth, Armidale, Dubbo, the Far North and the Northern Rivers areas.
Canberra is also in the midst of a snap lockdown, and Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended until at least next Thursday.
Yesterday, Victoria recorded 15 new local cases, while the ACT confirmed four new infections, and seven in Queensland.
NSW had its worst day with 390 new cases and two deaths.
NSW residents are anxiously awaiting Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s 11am Covid update after Friday’s horror day of 390 cases and two deaths.
It was the worst day yet in the current outbreak – but in a grim sign, Ms Berejiklian hinted that case numbers would rise in the days ahead.
“I anticipate, given the large number of cases we have had in the last few days, unfortunately this trend will continue for at least the next few days,” Ms Berejiklian said yesterday.
“It means all of us have to work harder to make sure we start and follow the rules.”
Concerningly, at least 60 of yesterday’s cases were infectious in the community.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is tipped to announce a raft of tough new rules today after the state recorded 390 new infections yesterday, the worst tally yet.
The crackdown will reportedly see fines jacked up to $5000 for rule breakers, while those who need to isolate as they await a test result will be paid $320 to stay at home.
The singles bubble will also be significantly tightened, and nobody will be permitted to leave Greater Sydney without a permit, meaning residents will not be able to travel to holiday homes.
The new measures were agreed upon at the state’s crisis cabinet yesterday, which convened to discuss the escalating crisis.
