'DEEP IN A WAR': NSW Covid cases increase AGAIN

NSW reported 35 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with over 56,000 people coming forward for testing.

Of the 35 people, nine were active in the community while infectious. Six of the infections are under investigation, while 29 are linked to previously identified cases.

"While as predicted the number of cases is going up, we are seeing a greater proportion of those cases in isolation, which is exactly what we want to see," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during a media conference.

Saturday's number is the highest number of cases recorded during the current outbreak. The increase follows 31 new cases on Friday.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was pleasing to see less people being out in the community while infectious, due to the lockdown.

However, she urged people to assume "the person next to you has Covid".

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned residents that the state is "deep in a war with this virus."

"My strong message to the community is, we will only win this war against the virus if people wear masks and follow all the other instructions that we understand will keep us safe," he said.

"We owe this to ourselves, we owe this to the community more broadly, we owe this to our families. Wear a mask and don't get caught up in the whacko views some are expressing."

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On Friday, Ms Berejiklian said the new cases were "concerning", with four under investigation and one-third not in isolation for the full period of their illness.

On Monday, Dr Chant said the number of daily infections should begin to drop off in about five days time.

However, while the daily case numbers have not ballooned, they are yet to drop, which may mean the lockdown across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas is extended beyond July 9.

Premier's appeal to get out of lockdown

Ms Berejiklian said she was concerned the pleasant weather in Sydney this weekend would result in people letting their guard down.

"Yes, it is great weather, we live in the best place on earth, but please be sensible, We're at the halfway point, we're at a good position." she said.

"We have a chance to get out of this lockdown as soon as we can, so long as we don't let our guard down and suddenly let the virus spread today and tomorrow because of the good weather.

"I just appeal to everyone to do the right thing. The lockdown is so far having the desired effect, but we need that to continue."

Dr Chant urged people to come forward and get tested, after being asked whether the lockdown will end next Friday.

"The message is do not delay," she said.

"Do not think that scratchy, itchy throat will get better tomorrow, don't think that runny nose, that headache, that loss of taste and smell, any of those symptoms will just magically resolved tomorrow.

"I want you out and getting tested. That will help us. It will help us know that we're missing any undetected chains."

NSW Health adds several new exposure sites

Several new exposure sites were identified overnight in NSW, including a Strathfield medical practice and several Woolworths supermarkets across Sydney.

Anyone who is considered a "close contact" must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

New close contact venues include:

• Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific – Bistro area, Manly, Saturday 26 June, 8.00am to 9.00am

• Exquisite Brows and Spa, Marrickville, Saturday 26 June, 9.00am to 5.00pm

• Sushi Hub, Burwood, Saturday 26 June, 4.45pm to 5.20pm

• Woolworths, Matraville, Sunday 27 June, 2.00pm to 3.00pm

• Volkswagen Rockdale, Rockdale, Monday 28 June, 2.30pm to 4.00pm

• The Coffee Emporium, Roselands, Monday 28 June — 7.40am to 8.10am, Tuesday 29 June — 7.40am to 8.10am, Wednesday 30 June — 7:40am to 8.10am

• Fresh Quality Fruit and Vegetables, Lakemba, Wednesday 30 June, 11.20am to 11.40am

• Woolworths, Eastlakes, Wednesday 30 June 1.00pm to 2.00pm

• Australia Post Office, Eastlakes, Wednesday 30 June, 1.00pm to 2.00

Casual contacts must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

New casual contact venues include:

• EzyMart, Bondi Beach, Saturday 26 June, 1.20pm to 1.45pm

• Avalons Organics, Avalon Beach, Saturday 26 June, 3.00pm to 4.00pm

• Chemist Warehouse, Avalon Beach, Saturday 26 June, 3.00pm to 4.00pm

• Panetta Mercato Marrickville, Marrickville, Saturday 26 June, 3.45pm to 4.30pm

• Aldi, Bondi Junction, Saturday 26 June, 4.00pm to 4.20pm

• Bite Box Kebabs, Bondi Beach, Saturday 26 June, 6.00pm to 7.00pm

• Strathfield Plaza, Strathfield, Sunday 27 June, 10.55am to 11.15am

• Woolworths, Strathfield, Sunday 27 June 11.00am to 11.10am

• Bunnings Taren Point, Caringbah, Sunday 27 June, 1.00pm to 1:30pm

• East Avenue Café, Oatley, Monday 28 June, 10.00am to 10.30am

• Bunnings, Villawood, Monday 28 June, 2.05pm to 2.35pm

• Cure Café, South Hurstville, Tuesday 29 June, 9.30am to 10.30am

• Fruitworld, Eastern Creek, Tuesday 29 June, 10.40am to 11.00am

• Strathfield Plaza, Strathfield, Tuesday 29 June, 11.45 to 12.35pm

• Chemist Warehouse, Strathfield, Tuesday 29 June, 12.00pm to 12:25pm

• Aldi, Auburn, Tuesday 29 June, 5.35pm to 5.45pm

• Eastlakes Shopping Centre, Eastlakes, Wednesday 30 June, 1.00 to 2.00pm

• 400 Bus from Anzac Parade near Boyce Road, Maroubra Junction to Clara Street at Blenheim Road, Randwick, Thursday 24 June, 10.36am to 10.46am

• 400 Bus from Clara Street opp Blenheim Road, Randwick to Maroubra Road after Ferguson Street, Maroubra, Thursday 24 June 11.49am to 12.01pm

Anyone who attended the Bunnings in Kirrawee on Tuesday 29 June between 1.00pm to 1.15pm is also considered a close contact and must get tested, however, in this case, people with no symptoms do not need to isolate, NSW Health said.

Several other sites of concern have also been listed by NSW Health.

Anyone who has been to the following venues should monitor for symptoms, and if they appear, immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received:

• Coles, Bondi Junction, Friday, 25 June, 7.30am to 7.50am

• Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre, Marrickville, Saturday, 26 June, 9.00am to 5.00pm

• Eastern Creek Quarter – rest of the shopping centre except for Fruitworld, Eastern Creek, Tuesday 29 June, 10.40am to 11.00am

• Sydney Growers Market Building D, Homebush, Tuesday, 29 June, 4.00pm to 5:00pm

• Strathfield Plaza, Strathfield, Thursday, 1 July, 1.15pm to 2.15pm

A full list of exposure sites can be found on the NSW Health website here.

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