NSW recorded 177 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night from 94,532 tests. 46 of those positive cases were infectious in the community, with the isolation status of a further 62 cases under investigation. Check the latest confirmed exposure venues here. This information is being updated as cases are confirmed and locations are verified. More information on today’s statistics here.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced that the lockdown in the Greater Sydney area (including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour) will continue for another four weeks and is now scheduled to end on 12.01am on Saturday 28 August. Year 12 students are set to return to face-to-face learning on Monday 16 August, with the Government finalising plans for the resumption of in-class study under strict COVID protocols. Students in other years will continue remote learning. Due to the ongoing lockdown the NSW Government has allowed a “singles bubble” whereby those who live alone can nominate one designated family member or friend to visit for companionship (note it must be the same person for the entirety of the four-week lockdown period). Full information on today’s extension announcement is here.

From midnight tonight, a further three Local Government Areas - Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River LGAs - will join the five existing LGAs of concern which are subject to an Authorised Workers Order. Only authorised workers in these eight LGAs may leave their LGA for work. Information on who is an authorised worker is available here. The Government has also announced changes to surveillance testing, enforceable from Saturday 31 July. All authorised workers from Canterbury-Bankstown LGA must get tested once every three days in order to leave their LGA for work. People who live in the Fairfield and Cumberland LGAs but work outside these areas as health or aged care workers (including support services for health or aged care, such as cleaners, cooks and security providers) must be tested once every three days in order to be allowed to go to work outside their LGA. These surveillance testing requirements will be enforceable from Saturday 31 July. However, relevant workers will have from today (July 28) to get their first test.  

Restrictions on entering the Local Courts, as per the Chief Magistrate’s memo, will continue. The Court has also published a list of FAQs and information about changes to court operations in light of the current lockdown, which can be viewed here.

No personal appearances are currently permitted in the District Court at the following courts: The Downing Centre, John Maddison Tower, Campbelltown, Gosford, Katoomba, Parramatta, Penrith, and Wollongong. All appearances must be by use of the virtual courtroom. The Virtual Court Practitioner Guide can be located on the District Court website. As the stay at home orders for the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne communities has been lifted, personal appearances are permitted to resume as of today (July 28)  in the District Court at Orange. All updates from the District Court are made available here.

An updated version of the Fact Sheet for Virtual Courtroom (v.4) participants has been published today. Please note new technical advice for participants using Google Chrome as their preferred browser for connection to the virtual courtroom.

The joint NSW Government and Commonwealth JobSaver program will be significantly boosted to give greater support to businesses and individuals impacted by the extended lockdown. JobSaver payments will now be available to businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million, up from $50 million, which have experienced a revenue decline of 30 per cent or more. The maximum weekly payment has also been substantially increased, with employing businesses that maintain their employee headcount now able receive between $1,500 and $100,000 per week, up from $10,000, with payments based on 40 per cent of their weekly NSW payroll. Payments are expected to start hitting bank accounts from 31 July. Read the announcement here.

As NSW seeks to increase the take-up of vaccinations, including the AstraZeneca vaccine, select pharmacists can now administer the AZ shot, and more GP clinics are offering the vaccine to those aged between 18-39. Check your eligibility and make a booking here.