Four Sydney LGAs placed in lockdown as NSW records 22 new COVID-19 cases

People who live or work in four Sydney local government areas — including the CBD — will go into lockdown after NSW recorded 22 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today.

The affected local government areas (LGAs) are: 

People who live in those areas, or have worked in those areas in the past fortnight, will be permitted to leave home only for four reasons until at least 11:59pm on Friday, July 2:

The lockdown will begin at 11:59pm today, and is estimated to affect more than 1 million people who live or work in the densely populated LGAs.

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There are now 65 cases linked to the Bondi cluster, which began with an unvaccinated limousine driver who transported international flight crew.

The ultra-infectious Delta COVID-19 variant has been spreading through Sydney for over a week, and while health authorities have been able to trace all but one new infection, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her government needed to step up its response. 

“Please know that this is in order for us to ensure that this doesn’t take a hold for weeks and weeks and we believe this is a proportionate response to the risk,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said many businesses in the affected areas would need to temporarily close their doors.

“Unfortunately, unless you’re providing essential food and services — that is take away food and services or grocery services of that nature — we don’t expect those businesses to remain open in the next week,” she said.

“Unfortunately, in this outbreak, we’re seeing too many examples of workers coming in from other areas, getting infected in the workplace but then passing on the infection to multiple clients.”

The Premier also urged people not to panic buy.

“You can go out and buy anything you need any time of the day. We don’t have curfew, we don’t have anything like that,” she said.

NSW’s existing COVID-19 restrictions, such as mandatory masks indoors and on public transport, have been extended until 11:59pm on Friday, July 2.

Greater Sydney is on high alert as the state’s COVID-19 cases grows.(

ABC News: Tim Swanston

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The state’s chief health officer Kerry Chant said contact tracers had overnight been able to link all but one infection to a known case or cluster.

“We’ve found the link that explains those unlinked cases. That person was infectious in the community on June 15 and 16,” Dr Chant said.

“But that then led to a number of seeding events and then we have seen workplace transmission at the Joh Bailey [hair salon in Double Bay].”

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Dr Chant said authorities were concerned about a potential 900 clients who visited the salon over the past 10 days.

“I expect more cases to be detected over the coming days and I’m urging all clients and staff of Joh Bailey between June 15 and 23 to be tested and maintain quarantine as directed by NSW Health.”

The case of nine-year-old child who attended St Charles’ Catholic Primary School in Waverley remains under investigation.

There were 47,603 tests reported to 8:00pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 48,402.

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