Greater Sydney faces harsher lockdown conditions

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state has recorded 111 new COVID-19 cases with 29 active in the community and announces harsher restrictions on Greater Sydney.

Ms Berejiklian said those living in the local government areas of Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, or Fairfield will not be allowed to leave except if they work in healthcare or emergency services but those people must undergo “surveillance testing”.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of cases, around 80 per cent or higher, is still in those three local government areas,” she said.

“We’re seeing the cases not just in the Fairfield local government area but also the exposure sites and the case trickle into the Canterbury-Bankstown council area and also the Liverpool council area.

Ms Berejiklian also said all construction, professional house cleaning, carpooling, and non-essential retail is to be halted until July 30.

Ms Berejklian said there would also be “harsher penalties” for employers who forced their employees to come to the office.

“We've said that employees, anyone who works in an office environment should be working from home but if your boss forces you to come into work in an office environment, your boss could be given an on the spot fine of $10,000, we don't want employees being forced into the office.”

Ms Berejiklian said regional New South Wales would not have any additional restrictions imposed.

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