All of regional NSW to enter lockdown as state records 466 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases

All of regional New South Wales will enter lockdown after the state posted a record 466 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and four deaths. 

Deputy Premier John Barilaro says stay-at-home orders will be introduced across regional NSW from 5pm on Saturday. 

"To minimise movement and protect our communities from the evolving COVID situation in Sydney, stay-at-home orders will be introduced for all of Regional NSW from 5pm tonight," he wrote on Twitter. 

After posting 390 new local infections on Friday, Saturday's COVID-19 caseload is the largest daily record since the start of the latest outbreak.

"Today is the most concerning day of the pandemic that we have seen in NSW," NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian.

"This is the largest jump we have seen in a night, and it's fair to say that we are on a par of being extremely concerned about the situation we're in in NSW." 

The new deaths include a female in her 40s in palliative care who was not vaccinated, a male in his 70s with pre-existing conditions who was vaccinated, a man in his 80s who was not vaccinated, and a female in her 70s whose vaccination status is not yet known. 

"We had four deaths overnight and we extend our deepest condolences to each and every one of the family and loved ones... behind each statistic is a human being with loved ones they have left behind," Ms Berejiklian said.

Of the new cases reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, 121 are linked to known outbreaks and 345 are under investigation. At least 87 people were in the community for all or part of their infectious period. 

Ms Berejiklian said case numbers are stabilising in the Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas, but Blacktown, Doonside, Mount Druitt, Maryland, Guildford and Auburn were areas of concern. 

"The front has moved through to Blacktown, Mount Druitt and places like that; and we're seeing cases in western NSW that are different in nature but still concerning," she said. 

Twenty-six new cases were recorded in western NSW, including regions with a high proportion of Aboriginal residents, such as Dubbo and Walgett.

The Hunter New England region had 16 new local cases. 

Despite no new cases in the Armidale LGA, the lockdown has been extended until 12.01am on 22 August based on health advice.

More ADF officers deployed, tougher restrictions introduced

Meanwhille, authorities on Saturday announced a series of tougher compliance measures that were approved during Friday's crisis cabinet meeting.

Leaders had heard proposals from NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and Police Minister David Elliott to update measures. 

An additional 500 Australian Defence Force personnel will join the NSW Police compliance operation from Monday, adding to the 550 ADF officers already assisting efforts.

"It only literally takes a handful of people to do the wrong thing to have a super-spreading event and we have a major setback, so this is why the police have been given the additional resources," Ms Berejiklian said. 

"Police have every ability with that increased presence to clamp down on people doing the wrong thing." 

Isolation payment available from Monday

From Monday, the NSW government will be introducing a $320 payment for those eligible workers who live in the LGAs of concern who isolate at home after having a COVID-19 test.  

Ms Berejiklian said the payment is necessary after the escalating number of COVID-19 tests stretched out waiting times. 

"We are seeing delays of a few days which is why we have the $320 immediate payment now available, so if people are waiting at home, they have access to the disaster payment if they are out of work."

There will also be a new $400 hardship payment through the Red Cross for temporary visa holders and others in the community who are ineligible for government financial support.

In the 24 hours to 8pm, 129,352 COVID-19 tests were conducted, compared to Friday's reported number of 127,988.

There are increased fines for breaching health orders in NSW from midnight on Monday, including $5,000 for breaching self-isolation rules, lying on a permit and lying to a contact tracer. 

A ban is being imposed on travel to holiday homes, except for maintenance reasons when only one person can visit the premises. 

Singles bubble rules tightened, travel to regions restricted

The name of the person nominated to be part of the singles bubble for those in the 12 LGAs with tougher restrictions will now need to be registered with the government.

The 12 LGAs of concern are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and parts of Penrith. 

Those leaving Greater Sydney will need to apply for a permit to prevent further spread of the virus to regional parts of the state.

"You will need a permit to go into regional NSW, whether you are an authorised worker, travelling to a second home because you might be a worker utilising a second home or inspecting real estate, you will need a permit, which will be effective from next Saturday," Ms Berejiklian said. 

"But between now and then police can stop you and seek evidence for what you are doing."

Limit reduced to five kilometres for Greater Sydney residents

The 10-kilometre limit has been reduced to five kilometres for all residents of Greater Sydney. 

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned that heftier fines will be applied immediately for those who breach the rules. 

"These are some of the biggest fines that I have ever seen, and we will be issuing them as of today," he said. 

"We will be enforcing that. You do have to carry identification, there is a whole range of other health orders that we can use against you."

He said 1400 officers would be patrolling road traffic, preventing any unauthorised travel outside the 5km limit or outside Greater Sydney.

The list of exposure sites has been updated to include three schools: the Buninyong Public School in Dubbo, the Dubbo School of Distance Education, and the Oxley Park Public School in western Sydney's St Marys.

SBS is providing live translations of daily NSW COVID-19 press conferences in Arabic, Assyrian, Cantonese, Khmer, Mandarin and Vietnamese. You can stream those live translations at SBS Arabic24, SBS Assyrian, SBS Cantonese, SBS Chinese, SBS Khmer, and SBS Vietnamese Facebook pages.

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