Live Breaking News: Sydney covid lockdown updates, case numbers and restrictions - NEWS.com.au

One in three Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the state are in intensive care, and its not just elderly people or those with underlying medical conditions who are suffering.

St Vincent’s Hospital emergency department medical, Dr Paul Preisz, told The Sydney Morning Herald there was a more diverse group of hospital patients this time around, with a “disproportionate number of younger patients in ICU”.

“It just seems like nobody is safe,” he said.

There are now 65 covid cases in Sydney’s hospitals, with 21 of those in intensive car and four who require ventilation. NSW recorded 89 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 767.

Follow along below for today’s Covid-19 updates. You can find yesterday’s blog here.

Live Updates

Testing queues in the Fairfield LGA are stretched back kilometres, with locals told there would be a four-hour wait before they can be seen.

Residents have flocked to testing venues on Wednesday morning after the NSW Government announced tough new rules in a bid to keep the rapidly-growing Covid-19 outbreak at bay.

Under the new rules, people living in the western Sydney local government area of Fairfield who need to leave the area for work will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days.

“If you live in the Fairfield local government area, you need to have regular Covid tests to demonstrate that you are Covid free, even if you don’t have symptoms,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.

“The Health Minister did sign a new health order which mandates that everybody who leaves the local government area for work is tested every three days to demonstrate that they are negative.”

Police can ask for proof of a recent test from Saturday.

A local worker named Wayne told 2GB he had waited in a queue at the 24-hour testing facility in Smithfield from 1am, before being forced to turn around and head to work hours later.

“The guy told me there was still a four-hour wait at that hour,” he said.

– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire

NSW's exposure site list has grown overnight, with new venues of concern added by NSW Health.

Anyone who attended the following venue at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553.

Bankstown: Primary Health Care Medical and Dental Centre (pharmacy only), 67 Rickard Street, Wednesday 7 July, 9:45pm to 10:00pm

Greenacre: Sydney Wide Building Materials , 53 Anzac Street, Friday 9 July, 6:50am to 7:20am

Lakemba: BHC Medical Centre, 53 Railway Parade, Monday 12 July, 8:35am to 8:55am

Punchbowl: Chubby Buns Burger, 1600 Canterbury Road, Wednesday 7 July, 7:00pm to 7:10pm

Smithfield: G James Glass and Aluminium, 26 Long Street, Tuesday 6 July, 7:00am to 6:00pm, Wednesday 7 July, 7:00am to 6:00pm, Thursday 8 July, 7:00am to 6:00pm and Friday 9 July, 7:00am to 6:00pm

Yagoona: Kaffeine & Co, 7/44 Dargan Street, Saturday 10 July, 1:30pm to 2:00pm

A number of casual contact venues were also added. You can find the full list of exposure sites here.

One in three Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the state are in intensive care, and its not just elderly people or those with underlying medical conditions who are suffering.

There are now 65 covid cases in Sydney’s hospitals, with 21 of those in intensive care and four who require ventilation.

St Vincent’s Hospital emergency department medical, Dr Paul Preisz, told The Sydney Morning Herald there was a more diverse group of hospital patients this time around, with a “disproportionate number of younger patients in ICU”.

“It just seems like nobody is safe,” he said.

There are currently 25 people under the age of 55 in hospital and 14 under the age of 35. In intensive care there in one person in their 20s, one in their 30s, one in their 40s, five in their 50s, six in their 60s, three in their 70s and one in their 80s.

NSW government officials have been ramping up calls for people to get the vaccine, with young people who are not eligible for Pfizer being urged to speak with their GP’s about AstraZeneca.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said both Covid-19 vaccines are effective in reducing the severity of the virus and therefore the rate of hospitalisation.

Adults under the age of 60 who cannot access the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine should be able to receive the AstraZeneca jab instead if they are in a Delta variant outbreak zone, health authorities say.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation said in a statement on Tuesday that its recommendations for non-outbreak settings were unchanged.

“In the context of a Covid-19 outbreak where the supply of Comirnaty (Pfizer) is constrained, adults younger than 60 years old, who do not have immediate access to Comirnaty (Pfizer), should reassess the benefits to them and their contacts from being vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, versus the rare risk of a serious side effect,” ATAGI said.

While the recommended interval between the two doses of AstraZeneca was between four and 12 weeks, during outbreaks it should be between four and eight weeks, the group added.

“Therefore, people in an outbreak situation who received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca more than four weeks ago should contact their vaccine provider to arrange their second dose as soon as possible,” they said.

In non-outbreak situations, the preferred interval between doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine remains at 12 weeks.
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire

Last night the NSW government announced a new financial support package for those impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown.

NSW says the total Covid-19 relief package will now be up to $5.1 billion, including more than $1 billion from the federal government.
The federal government also increased the Commonwealth Covid-19 Disaster Payment from $500 to $600 for for people who have lost more than 20 hours of work, and from $325 to $375 for people who have lost between eight and 20 hours.

Affected businesses will also be offered support of up to $10,000 per week.

Here is a breakdown of what the NSW support package will include:

An extension to the previously announced business grants program. This means eligible businesses with Australian wages below $10 million can claim grants between $7500 and $15,000 to cover the first three-weeks of restrictions, and takes the potential size of the program to $2.1 billion.
Up to $2 billion committed to the scheme to provide cashflow support to businesses to help them retain staff, to be delivered together with the Commonwealth.
Payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for businesses with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million that have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover, as well as payroll tax deferrals and interest free repayment plans.
A new grants program for micro businesses with a turnover of between $30,000 and $75,000 which experience a decline in turnover of 30 per cent. The businesses will be eligible for a $1500 payment per fortnight of restrictions.
A capped grant of up to $1500 for residential landlords who are not liable to pay land tax who reduce rent for tenants estimated at $210 million.
Land tax relief equal to the value of rent reductions provided by commercial, retail and residential landlords to financially distressed tenants, up to 100 per cent of the 2021 land tax year liability.
Introduction of legislative amendments to ensure a short-term eviction moratorium for rental arrears where a residential tenant suffers loss of income of 25 per cent due to Covid-19 and meets a range of criteria.
No recovery of security bonds, or lockouts or evictions of impacted retail and commercial tenants prior to mediation.
Deferral of gaming tax assessments for clubs until 21 December 2021 and hotels until 21 January 2021.
A $75 million support package for the performing arts sector to be administered by Create NSW.
A support package for the accommodation sector worth $26 million.
$12 million in additional funding for temporary accommodation for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
$5.1 million in NSW funding to support mental health.