17,000 residents thrown back into lockdown after three days of freedom

Thousands of Yass residents have been issued more stay-at-home orders after a Covid case was confirmed in the community,

The regional New South Wales town only emerged from their previous lockdown three days ago but will go back into lockdown for two weeks from midnight Monday, September 13.

"Urgent investigations and contact tracing are underway," NSW Health said in a statement.

The announcement was made after a positive case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the Yass Valley Council area, in the Southern Tablelands LGA, following a recent positive sewage detection.

The stay-at-home orders will apply to all people in the Yass Valley Council area, including anyone who visited the region on or after Thursday, September 9.

Reasons residents may leave their home:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;

• Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a Covid vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);

• If you are fully vaccinated, you can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation so long as all those at the gathering aged 16 years or over are fully vaccinated.

• Work, or tertiary education, where you cannot work or study from home;

• To attend a wedding or a funeral. A maximum of 11 people can attend a wedding service. This means a maximum of five guests, the two people being married, the two witnesses, the celebrant or officiant, and one person recording the service. A maximum of 10 people can attend a funeral.

Residents must wear a face mask at all times in all indoor or outdoor areas, including on streets, parks. shops or at work.

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According to NSW Health, there are limited exceptions, such as when you are in a vehicle with members of your household or your nominated visitor (‘singles bubble’), exercising, eating or drinking, and in emergencies.

On social media, residents were less than impressed.

"What a joke," one person wrote.

"Back to prison again dang it," another said.

New freedoms begin for vaccinated Sydney residents

NSW recorded 1257 new cases of community-transmitted Covid-19 on Monday, as new freedoms begin for Sydneysiders who are fully vaccinated

However, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned people not be complacent.

"I urge the community, please do not get complacent, do not let your guard down, because any event that we don't anticipate or expect could see a major setback and none of us want to see that happen," Ms Berejiklian said.

Up to five fully-vaccinated adults who live outside the councils of concern can gather outdoors within five kilometres of their home. There is no time limit for the gatherings but fines will apply if any of the five members of the group have not had their second jab.

Vaccinated households that live in the 12 local government areas of concern will be able to gather outdoors for recreation, including for a picnic, for up to two hours within five kilometres of home.The 12 LGAs of concern are: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.

Of the 1257 cases recorded on Monday, 78 are from Nepean Blue Mountains, 27 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven, 18 are from Hunter New England district, 16 are from the Central Coast and two are from Southern Local Health District.

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