Sydney will remain in lockdown for another four weeks after having already endured a month of stay-at-home orders and restrictions, the New South Wales government announced on Wednesday.
Berejiklian told reporters that all areas currently locked down “will continue to be locked down for a further four weeks.” The decision affects Greater Sydney including Shell Harbour, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, and the Central Coast, which will now be under lockdown until Aug. 28.
Berejiklian said that there is “plenty of AstraZeneca” and that anyone 18 and over in Greater Sydney “should access the jab.” She said that unvaccinated people should “please organise a jab” especially if they are in one of the restricted LGAs.
The restrictions will continue to affect students, who must keep up with their education from home, except for those in year 12, who will return to face to face learning on Aug. 16..
The state government noted, however, that year 12 students who live in one of the 8 LGAs will be “subject to a Pfizer vaccination program.”
Berejiklian on Wednesday announced the government has partially lifted one of its most controversial lockdowns restrictions—the ban on construction work. Now, non-occupied worksites around the city and its surroundings will be allowed to re-open from Saturday.
The government had faced heavy criticism for the ban on construction work, including from the construction union, the CFMEU.
“Last Friday, we were still told the industry could keep going,” CFMEU Secretary Darren Greenfield said. “To come out and flip a switch was atrocious.”
He added, “We’re still angry, but we need to start telling the government—everyone in the industry and everyone in NSW as well—that we need to get back up and running.”
Both the federal and state government have announced new support packages in an effort to soften the financial blow caused by the imposed lockdown.
Individuals receiving Centrelink payments will be eligible for an additional $200 a week if they lose more than eight hours of work per week.
The NSW government will also offer eligible businesses and not-for-profits payments of between $1,500 and $100,000 a week, depending on their payroll.
The payment will be calculated based on 40 percent of payroll for businesses that have suffered a decline of 30 percent or more in turnover. The NSW government expects the scheme will cover more than 400,000 businesses employing 3.3 million workers in NSW.