The remaining parts of New South Wales not in lockdown will reportedly join the rest of us in a 7-day statewide lockdown from 5pm today.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the report in a press statement breaking down the restrictions. From 5pm today, 14th August, till the 21st August, the following will take effect:
- everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, and you cannot have visitors in your home from outside your household.
- You can visit another household only to provide care, for compassionate reasons, or where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.
- All hospitality venues—including pubs, cafes, and restaurants—can only do takeaway.
- Anyone who leaves their home must carry a mask with them at all times, and they must be worn when in an indoor venue.
- Masks must also be worn when working outdoors, including by school staff, and when in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in outdoor queues waiting for coffee and food.
- Every employer across NSW must require their employees to work from home unless they cannot do so.
Until 12:01am Monday, 16th August, planned weddings and funerals can go ahead but only with guests in areas that up until today were not already in lockdown. From Monday, only ten people can attend a funeral or memorial service.
Earlier today, Greens NSW Member for Parliament David Shoebridge and several government backbenchers revealed reports that there will be a statewide lockdown.
BREAKING: Hearing that there will be a state wide lockdown announcement effective from 5pm today covering all of regional NSW for an initial 7 days.
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) August 14, 2021
The NSW Government will announce a 7-day statewide lockdown, commencing at 5pm today. More details to come.
— Helen Dalton MP (@helendalton22) August 14, 2021
#BREAKING: NSW will enter a statewide lockdown from 5pm today for one week. @abcnews #covidnsw
— Chelsea Hetherington (@chelsea_hetho) August 14, 2021
Speaking at today’s COVID-19 update, Berejiklian introduced a number of new changes to the Greater Sydney lockdown, including increased fines for breaching stay-at-home orders and a new police operation.
The 7-day NSW statewide lockdown comes as the state records its highest daily number of cases in this entire pandemic with 466 locally acquired cases. At least 16 of them are from the Hunter New England local health district. Earlier this week, someone tested positive in a regional NSW town with an Indigenous Australian population of roughly 43%.
Stay tuned for more info.
