NSW recorded 111 cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, prompting Premier Gladys Berejiklian to announce tougher lockdown measures for areas of Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Woolongong and Shell Harbour.
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From 12.01am Monday, all construction in the Greater Sydney area will be paused, as well as non-urgent maintenance including cleaning services, and repair work on residential premises.
All non-critical retail businesses in the Greater Sydney area will also be required to cease face-to-face trading and rely on click-and-collect, delivery or takeaway services.
The following businesses, however, are considered critical and are exempt from the measures:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers);
- Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies;
- Pharmacies and chemists;
- Petrol stations;
- Car hire;
- Banks and financial institutions;
- Hardware, nurseries and building supplies;
- Agricultural and rural supplies;
- Pet supplies;
- Post offices and newsagents
- Office supplies
In addition to the retail and business restrictions, masks must be worn by anyone leaving home, including works outdoors, as well as at outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food.
All carpooling to be stopped unless among members of the same household.
From 12.01am Wednesday, employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so, failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.
During Saturday's announcement, Ms Berejiklian said restrictions in regional parts of the state, including the Hunter, will continue as they have since the current lockdown began on June 26, with no additional measures to be imposed.
"All the settings in regional New South Wales remain the same," Ms Berejiklian said, "You will not be having any additional restrictions imposed on you, but please keep up the good work, keep up what you're doing and make sure that you comply with the rules in place."
