Greater Sydney’s COVID-19 lockdown has been extended until the end of September and a bundle of new restrictions have been put in place – mostly for Greater Sydney- after NSW recorded 644 new cases.
Wearing a mask outdoors has now become mandatory to everyone in NSW. If you are exercising, a mask is not required. However, a mask should always be carried with you.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this was to avoid instances of fleeting transmission and to aid police with compliance.
"Our concern is that when people are walking past a group of people or accidentally bumping into people, that can cause that fleeting contact and transmission," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Even when you are exercising, you need to have the mask with you, in case you were doing some strenuous exercise, you come into contact with anybody else, the mask has to be put on.
"It also makes it easier for police to make sure everybody is sticking to the rule. Unless you are exercising, masks outdoor applies to every single citizen across NSW, whether you live in Sydney or the bush, everybody has to respect that."
Gladys Berejiklian said news regarding the 6 million jabs target will come next week.
About 5.6 million shots have gone into arms in NSW, 54 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.
"These are great milestones that we are hitting, and we cannot say enough how important it is the people to come forward and get vaccinated”, said the Premier.
Regional NSW lockdown is set to lift on 28 August.