COVID Update: Local restrictions begin at 6pm

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has described the latest outbreak caused by the delta variant of Covid-19 as the “scariest time I’ve felt since the pandemic started and that’s proven to be the case.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said, “the delta variant is moving around our community far faster than anyone could have imagined.”

Noting the virus has been detected in sewerage in Burke and expressing concerns that the virus may have reached regional New South Wales undetected.

With more cases emerging in the state and the rate of transmissibility this variant being double the usual rates, regional New South Wales will enter restrictions at 6pm tonight, while Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong enter lockdown until midnight on July 9.

Anyone who has been in Greater Sydney since June 21 who have returned to the regions are required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days, with growing concerns the variant could reach regional New South Wales.

Restrictions effective in regional New South Wales commencing at 6pm tonight include:

• masks to be worn at all indoor venues;
• no more than 5 visitors in your home;
• all hospitality venues must be seated;
• the one person 4 square metre rule is again in place, and
• restrictions will come into place for weddings and funerals on Monday.