Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the Hunter and Upper Hunter regions in New South Wales will enter a one-week lockdown from 5pm tonight.
The local government areas include:
- Newcastle
- Lake Macquarie
- Maitland
- Cessnock
- Port Stephens
- Dungog
- Singleton
- Muswellbrook
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has told people to “go home now, isolate and stay home” even though the lockdown does not commence until this evening.
The areas will have the same restrictions as Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, meaning venues will have to close for dine-in and are restricted to takeaway and delivery.
The lockdown announcement comes after a number of COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the areas over the past few days.
“While we have allowed rural NSW to continue a range of activities not available to people in Sydney, we need to make sure you are still vigilant about symptoms; you cannot be complacent, the risk is everywhere,” said Dr Chant.
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