People who enter regional NSW from Greater Sydney will face much higher fines and a new permit system as the state recorded a new peak of COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
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From Monday, there will be a $3000 on-the-spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW and a permit system will be introduced from Saturday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state faced "the most concerning day of the pandemic in NSW" with 466 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday.
"This is the largest jump we have seen in the night and it is fair to say we are extremely concerned about the situation that we are in," she said.
"At least 60 of those [new COVID cases] were infectious in the community but that number is likely to go up given a number of cases are still under investigation.
"Unfortunately, we had four deaths overnight and we extend our deepest condolences to each and every one of the families and loved ones."
An unvaccinated woman aged in her 40s in palliative care at Concord Hospital, a vaccinated man in his 70s with pre-existing health conditions in Liverpool Hospital, an unvaccinated man in his 80s at Concord hospital and female aged in her 70s in Campbelltown Hospital died from COVD-19 in the past 24 hours.
The state's previous record for new cases in a 24 hour period was 390 on Friday.
Ms Berejiklian said there was good news in the fact that NSW had reached the milestone of 50 per cent of people receiving at least their first vaccine dose.
Of the 466 new cases, 26 were from the Western NSW Local Health District, 16 were from Hunter New England LHD, two were from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD and four currently have unknown addresses.
To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, restrictions will be extended for the Armidale Regional Local Government Area, including the towns of Armidale and Guyra, until 12.01am Sunday 22 August.
Public Health Order will be changed to increase fines for breaches and introduce a permit system to enter regional NSW and tightened rules for people in Local Government Areas of concern.
Increased fines for Public Health Order breaches from 12.01am, Monday, 16 August:
- $5000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules;
- $5000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence);
- $5000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence);
- $3000 on the spot fine for breaching the two person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and
- $3000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.
Permit system to enter regional NSW (from 12.01am, Saturday, 21 August):
Any person who wishes to travel to regional NSW for one of the following reasons must have a permit which will be made available on Service NSW.
- authorised workers from LGAs of concern;
- Inspecting real estate. Any person inspecting real estate in the regions must now genuinely need a home to live in (no investment properties); and
- Travelling to your second home. This is now only allowed if you are using the home for work accommodation or if the home requires urgent maintenance and repairs (if so, only one person may travel there).
Ms Berejiklian said NSW Police would be enforcing the new rules and fines ahead of next Saturday,, regardless of the dates on the public health order.
"Between now and then, police can stop you and seek evidence for what you are doing and if you are doing the wrong thing, you will have those extra fines imposed," she said.
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