NSW records 30 new COVID-19 cases on first day of lockdown

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a further 30 cases as Millions of people across NSW have entered their first morning of lockdown.  

Eleven of those cases were already in isolation and most are linked to known sources. However, several cases were in the community while infectious.

“We ask everybody to keep monitoring the NSW website for the latest information on venues and to respond accordingly,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The Bondi cluster now stands at 110, with a further two cases still under investigation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the number of cases would likely increase this week due to the contagiousness of the Delta strain.

"We do anticipate that in the next few days, case numbers are likely to increase even beyond what we have seen today because we are seeing that people in isolation, unfortunately, would have already transmitted to all their house contacts," she said.

"Greater daily infection figures will also likely become a reality, she added."

“Measure of our success will be to limit the number of people who went out and about into the community with the disease," she said.

"That is why we are in the situation we are in. We are to prevent people from circulating into the community and it is important for all of us to respect the stay-at-home and lockdown provisions that all of us can stay safe."

One case included a person who attended the COVID-19 vaccination centre at Westmead Hospital on Monday. 

Experts have also blasted the state government’s response to the outbreak, with some saying Premier Gladys Berejiklian should have imposed a lockdown sooner. 

University of NSW epidemiologist and World Health Organisation adviser, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, said the tougher restrictions have come “a little too late,” which means residents are now facing a longer period in lockdown.

“At least it’s happened, but because it’s late people are going to really feel it because it’s going to have to be for at least 14 days,” she told A Current Affair on Saturday night.

Until 11.59pm on July 9 residents in the lockdown areas can only leave their homes for four reasons, including shopping for essentials, work or education that can’t be completed at home, medical care or compassionate needs, and outdoor exercise in groups of up to 10.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said 15 penalty infringement notices have been issued overnight for a range of incidents related to the new public health orders.

Speaking to media yesterday, Dr Kerry Chant said contact tracers linked a large number of cases to “an unrecognised strand of infection”.

“We now know that there have been a lot of people infectious in the community,” she said.

Overnight the state recorded 55,048 tests, while one of the previously reported positive cases was moved to an intensive care unit but remains unventilated.

Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour have been in lockdown since 6:00pm last night.