Greater Sydney's Current COVID-19 Lockdown Will Continue Until At Least July 30

Sydneysiders, after almost three weeks in lockdown now, you're probably quite sick of the sight of your own four walls. But with high local COVID-19 case numbers continuing to be reported daily — including 97 new cases identified in the 24 hours until 8pm yesterday, Tuesday, July 13 — the lockdown conditions currently in place in the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions aren't going to end anytime soon.

This time last week, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian extended the lockdown until Friday, July 16. Today, Wednesday, July 14, she has just announced that it will continue for at least another two weeks beyond that. So, 11.59pm on Friday, July 30 is the new possible end time and date — but whether lockdown does finish then will obviously depend upon case numbers in a fortnight.

"It always hurts to say this, but we need to extend the lockdown for at least another two weeks," said the Premier. "We will assess the situation at the end of those two weeks and provide information beyond that," she continued.

Folks currently in lockdown will remain under the same conditions that are presently in place — with the stay-at-home rules in these areas getting stricter back on Friday, July 9. Since then, rules around face masks have expanded, too, as have testing requirements for some workers.

Accordingly, everyone in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour can still only leave the house for four specific essential reasons: to work and study if you can't do it from home; for essential shopping; for exercise outdoors; and for compassionate reasons, which includes medical treatment, getting a COVID-19 test and getting vaccinated.

And, you can still only exercise in groups of two outdoors — or as a household. You can also only get sweaty within your local government area, or within ten kilometres of where you live. And, you're still not permitted to carpool with anyone outside of your household when it comes to exercising, or in general.

If you need supplies, only one person from each household can go out shopping each day to buy essential items — and browsing is prohibited, too.

No one can have anyone over to their house, either — other than for care purposes, which includes intimate partners.

Announcing the lockdown extension, the Premier advised that it is "the number of infections in the community we want to get down to zero" before the NSW Government can consider lifting the stay-at-home conditions. "If we have cases in isolation, that is less of a concern to us, and I want to make that clear. The number that would worry us in the last 24 hours is the 24 number. Twenty-four people were infectious in the community. We need to get that down to as close to zero as possible," she said.

"The advice on the two weeks is provided through health. We will know at the end of two weeks to what extent we need to extend the lockdown," the Premier continued. "There are a number of issues we won't know until we have further data. Remember, the impact of some of the changes we have put in place will not be found for the next few days."

As always, Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited. If you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, you'll need to get tested immediately and follow NSW Health's self-isolation instructions.

In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any.

The current lockdown in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour will now continue until at least Friday, July 30. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.