The lockdown in Greater Sydney will be extended until the end of September.
It comes as Premier Gladys Berejiklian implements what she calls “final measures” to tackle the surge in virus numbers.
They include a 9pm to 5am curfew in Local Government Areas of concern, including Parramatta and Cumberland LGAs.
Exercise is also being limited to one hour a day in the Areas of Concern.
Masks also must be worn outdoors across the entire state unless exercising.
The following retail premises must close except for click and collect: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies (tradespeople are allowed to shop in-store where relevant).
Ms Berejiklian also announced that childcare and disability workers in Areas of Concern will face mandatory vaccines and must get their first jab 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.
She also made this plea to parents: “Unless you absolutely have to please do not send your child to childcare or early childhood. We understand some families don’t have a choice and we get that.”
As part of the lockdown extension, Central Coast and Shellharbour will move to regional status.
Meantime, a man in his 80s who was battling COVID-19 at Nepean Hospital has passed away.
It comes after 642 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 were reported in New South Wales to 8pm last night.
35 were reported in the Nepean Blue Mountains Health District.
In some more positive news, more than 130,000 people were vaccinated in New South Wales yesterday.
At those rates, Premier Gladys Berejiklian expects NSW will continue to reach its vaccination targets.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.