The 12 Sydney Covid hotspots now under tougher restrictions

Those living in Sydney's coronavirus hotspots are waking up to their first day under a curfew and all of NSW must now wear masks outside their homes as tougher lockdown measures take effect.

Following two consecutive days of Covid-19 case numbers over 800, a raft of new public health rules began at 12.01am on Monday.

The harsher measures include a 9pm to 5am curfew for those who live in a dozen Sydney local government areas of concern, and statewide mandatory mask-wearing when outdoors, except if exercising.

The 12 Sydney LGAs of concern with new curfew

• Bayside

• Blacktown

• Burwood

• Campbelltown

• Canterbury-Bankstown

• Cumberland

• Fairfield

• Georges River

• Liverpool

• Parramatta

• Strathfield

• Penrith

Hardware stores like Bunnings, office supply stores and other retail premises must close in these LGAs except for click-and-collect, and all exams and education activities will move online, except the HSC.

All of NSW is currently in lockdown and police have ramped up enforcement of restrictions as authorities battle to contain the spread of the Delta strain.

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NSW reported 830 locally acquired cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, another daily infection record, as well as three deaths.

As case numbers mount and elimination of Covid-19 in NSW becomes unfeasible, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the health system retained plenty of excess capacity to handle sick patients.

Weekend anti-lockdown protests in NSW

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered at the Queensland-NSW border on Sunday to protest changes to entry requirements between the states, including a man on a large white horse.

NSW Police said protesters had crossed the border between Queensland at Coolangatta and NSW at Tweed Heads, with eight people arrested and 54 fined for breaching public health orders.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the protesters' actions had posed "a significant risk to the community".

Further inquiries are underway to identify those who attended the protest, police said.

Lockdown settings will remain in place in regional NSW until at least August 28 and in Greater Sydney until at least September 30.

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