Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly has widened the Sydney COVID-19 Hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support to Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong, and extended the Hotspot to 9 July.
Professor Kelly declared seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Sydney COVID-19 Hotspots from 23 June for an initial seven days with an extension, announced on 25 June, to end on 2 July.
“As further cases have emerged in a wider geographic area, and in line with NSW Government announcements today (26 June), additional LGAs have been added to the Hotspot definition,” Professor Kelly said.
He said all LGAs in Greater Sydney had now been declared a Hotspot from 26 June to 9 July and further review of the Hotspot classification would occur on or before 8 July.
Professor Kelly asked members of the public to follow the directions of NSW Health and encouraged people to seek out their COVID-19 vaccination.
“Getting vaccinated is considered a valid reason to leave home,” he said.
Professor Kelly said the declaration of a Hotspot for Commonwealth support triggered, if required, provision of PPE from the National Medical Stockpile; actions for aged care facilities; assistance with contact tracing; asymptomatic testing via General Practice-led Respiratory Clinics; and reprioritisation of vaccine supplies.
He said the Hotspot declaration also provided affected residents with access to Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payments if eligibility criteria were met, including that the State-imposed lockdown ran for longer than seven days.
