NSW has recorded 642 new cases of Covid-19, with the premier announcing a major change to lockdown rules that will impact all NSW residents.
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From 12.01am on Monday, 23 August, mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising.
The rule will apply to Greater Sydney and Regional NSW until August 28 when lockdown is scheduled to be lifted.
The change was one of many announced by the premier at Friday morning's press conference following days of case numbers in excess of 600.
On Friday 642 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths were confirmed, with at least 41 people infectious while in the community.
Under the changes, the greater Sydney lockdown will be extended until the end of September and a curfew will be put in place in local government areas of concern in Sydney for the first time.
The 9pm to 5am curfew will be in place in those LGAs with exceptions for critical workers.
The premier also announced new powers for the NSW Police Force including:
- Power for the Commissioner of Police to lockdown apartment blocks while health assesses the COVID risk;
- Power for the Commissioner of Police to declare a residential premise a COVID-risk premise and require all people to present to police during compliance checks;
- Powers to allow police to direct a person who has been issued with an infringement notice to return to their place of residence; and
- If a person from outside an LGA of concern is found to be in an LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse, they will be fined $1000 and required to isolate at home for 14 days.
Changes impacting LGAs of concern include:
- Outdoor exercise will now be limited to one hour a day
- Garden centres, office supply stores, hardware stores and pet supply stores must close except for click and collect in those areas.
- Authorised workers from the LGAs who work outside their area can only work if they get their first jab by the 30th of August, or if their workplace has rapid antigen testing.
- From next Saturday, authorised workers from the areas of concern, or those entering to work will also need a permit.
Vaccination rates across NSW have hit 54 per cent partially vaccinated with about 5.6 million jabs administered.
"These are great milestones that we are hitting and we cannot say enough how important it is the people to come forward and get vaccinated., the Premier said.
About 132,000 tests were taken in the community yesterday.
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