RESIDENTS are being locked in their homes from 9pm after a raft of new restrictions including a curfew, extra mask mandates and lockdown extension were introduced to help tackle the out of control Covid-19 Delta outbreak.
The tougher new restrictions for LGAs of concern, such as Cumberland, include a curfew from 9pm to 5am (except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people; stay at home orders extended until the end of September; outdoor exercise limited to one hour a day; and several larger retail premises now forced to close except for click and collect.
Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou says it is another blow to the community and has invited Premier Gladys Berejiklian to “come to Cumberland to see the impacts for herself”.
“Our community is reeling and has been brought to its knees,” he said.
“In many instances, these extended lockdowns have destroyed families and killed businesses.
“Every day the council is inundated with phone calls from residents pleading for assistance.
“They cannot afford to pay their mortgage, rent, bills, or put food on the table to feed their kids. The mental health implications of this will be seen for years to come.”
Other new restrictions include:
• Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in the LGAs of concern must have their first vaccination dose by August 30;
• Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their work-site or if they have had their first vaccination dose by August 30; and
• From Saturday, August 28, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern must carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home and anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work, must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.
