Sydney COVID-19 Outbreak Grows Again to 172 Cases

New South Wales has reported 172 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19—a new daily high—and potentially 79 of those people were infectious in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least July 31, as health authorities work to contain an outbreak of the Delta strain of the novel coronavirus.

“Time and time again cases are popping up in workplaces … but also in households,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.

Two women in their 80s who died of the virus, as reported on Monday, were household contacts of people who were unvaccinated.

Berejiklian said the virus was now becoming more prevalent in western Sydney, than in south-western Sydney.

A multi-storey apartment block in western Sydney has been locked down with a police guard to enforce two weeks of quarantine after six cases of COVID-19 were detected amongst the residents.

Around 100 people living in the five-storey building are being urgently tested after the first case was diagnosed in a resident in the Devitt St building in Blacktown on Monday.

Western Sydney Local Health District says all residents are considered close contacts.

The six cases were identified in three associated households of the apartment block of 50 units, which is owned by Evolve Housing, one of the country’s largest community housing providers.

Authorities are working with residents, building management and other agencies “to implement measures to address infection control and the health and welfare of residents”.

“Food and other services, including daily welfare checks, will be provided to residents safely during their 14-day quarantine period,” the Western Sydney Local Health District said.

“Tailored support services will be provided to all isolated residents as needed.”

The emergency reinforces the need for everyone to wear a face mask in shared foyer or lobby areas, lifts, stairwells and corridors, and shared laundry facilities.

NSW Police were called by NSW Health on Monday night to guard the building.

Blacktown is one of the local government areas at the epicentre of Sydney’s COVID outbreak and non-essential workers cannot leave, even for work.

A week-long lockdown in the NSW regional local government areas of Orange, Cabonne and Blayney will expire at 11.59 p.m. on Tuesday.

A full list of NSW exposure sites can be found at health.nsw.gov.au

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