"Stay in Sydney" – NSW hit by "very serious" outbreak

Over 2.7 billion vaccination doses have been injected across the globe – that’s 35 per 100 people everywhere – but Australia is lagging in 79th position for the percentage of population who have received vaccine doses, placing us firmly between Grenada and Belize.

And now it seems, we’re paying the price as a new outbreak is hitting Australia’s most populous state.

NSW has recorded 13 new cases today as the ‘Bondi Cluster’ balloons, and Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced sweeping restictions for the city, and the state as a whole as 44,000 Sydneysiders throng testing centres.

NSW recorded 10 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, seven of which were already announced yesterday morning.

NSW Health has also been notified of 13 new locally acquired cases overnight. These cases will be included in tomorrow's numbers. pic.twitter.com/OFxWSq0ocb

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 23, 2021

The new restrictions include face masks, and restrictions on certain Sydney residents. Premier Berejiklian has asked certain residents to limit “non-essential travel”.

“If you happen to work in a regional community but travel to those LGAs, we recommend you consider working from home or else living in the LGA where you work,” the NSW Premier said to reporters.

“But for essential purposes, people can still conduct their business. Just be extra cautious. If it is for an essential reason, you are able to move around. But what we are saying is if you live or work in those LGA is, we don’t want you moving outside of metropolitan Sydney.”

From 4pm today, face masks are mandatory in public indoor venues in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour areas.

💬For more information about when you need to wear a face mask in NSW, visit: https://t.co/i6cnidF4gS pic.twitter.com/bs6yHeJfAv

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 22, 2021

People who live or work in any of 7 Sydney local government areas are subject to the restrictions – and Victoria has said it will turn people back at the border who are from any of the 7 – anyone else may have to quarantine for 14 days.

The Chief Health Officer has declared the following NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) as red zones under Victoria’s travel permit system, effective at 1:00am 23 June:

•City of Sydney
•Waverley
•Woollahra
•Bayside
•Canada Bay
•Inner West
•Randwick
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— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 22, 2021

• Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests — including children
• Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed
• Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed
• Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people)
• Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn)
• The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals
• Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity
• Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced
• If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.