NSW TIGHTENS LOCKDOWN
ANYONE wanting to leave Greater Sydney will require a permit and singles bubbles for those in areas of concern will need to be registered in tough new rules brought in for areas in lockdown.
Announcing the changes on Saturday, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was the “most concerning” day of the pandemic the state has experienced so far.
NSW recorded 466 new cases and four deaths on Saturday, the highest case spike in the state’s history.
“This is literally a war and we know it has been a war for some time – but never to this extent,” she said.
Crisis cabinet agreed to the changes on Friday night, after a horror week of spiking case numbers, which saw multiple new regions plunged into lockdown and police demand new powers to help curb the spread.
Fines for breaching public health orders, including lying to contact tracers, will be raised from $1000 to $5000 and a $3000 on-the-spot fine will be issued to people who breach the two-person exercise rule.
From Monday, there will be enhanced random checkpoints at key roads. Ms Berejiklian said members of the riot squad and highway patrol would be deployed to key local government areas.
An additional 500 Australian Defence Force members will hit the ground in Sydney, after NSW Police requested additional support. A stay-at-home payment of $320 will be brought in for residents of hotspot areas who are asked to isolate while waiting for Covid test results, similar to a $450 payment available in Victoria.