NSW lockdown call imminent as state reports daily infection record

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a decision on tightening restrictions could be made as soon as today, as the state registered a record 172 new community Covid19 cases yesterday.

Of the new cases, 85 are linked to a known case or cluster and the source of infection for 87 cases is under investigation. Sixty cases were infectious while in the community.

Berejiklian again urged residents to follow the state’s lockdown rules and get vaccinated.

“Not only are you protecting yourself but you’re protecting those closest to you.

“I think what’s important to note is that it’s been a good time for the health experts to give us good data on how the virus is transmitting and in which way,” she said.

“And consistently we’ve seen critical workplaces and also households be the main generators of the virus transmitting and they’re the issues we

need to focus in on.”

Berejiklian said those factors would be taken into consideration when the Government decided on “what life beyond July 31 looks like”, saying she hoped to make such an announcement “as early as [today], to give people plenty of notice”.

Victoria has recorded 10 new cases as state's fifth lockdown was set to end at 11.59pm last night.

Under the new rules, the 5km travel limit has been scrapped, schools will return to face-to-face learning, and hospitality, retailers and gyms can reopen. Restaurants, bars,

cafes and pubs will be restricted to one person per 4 sq m. Patron caps would be finalised today.

Hairdressers and beauticians will also be permitted to operate, while workers will be able to return to the office – at a maximum 25 per cent of capacity or 10 people, whichever is greater. Groups in public will be limited to 10 people. Masks will remain mandatory both indoors and outside, with the requirement to wear them inside expected to continue for a long time.

Despite last night’s loosening of restrictions, Victorian Covid-19 testing commander Jeroen Weimar has indicated that health authorities will still need 10 more days to run the outbreak into the ground.

“You are always going to worry when you have [190] active cases in the community, the largest number we have had since September last year,” he said.

Victoria has recorded 180 cases linked to the two outbreaks that jumped the border from Sydney's Delta outbreak.

There are also lingering concerns about an anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne last weekend becoming a Covid-19 superspreader event.