Covid update - Travel warning
25th June 2021
IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE - Friday June 25 
The situation in Sydney is likely to get a little worse before it gets better, but the good news announced today is that all cases of community transmission have now been linked to a source, which is very important in containing the outbreak. NSW recorded 11 cases of community transmission in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, and another 17 since. While those numbers might sound bad (although anything above zero is!), it's also important to note that almost all of those cases are household contacts or known contacts of existing cases who were already isolating when they became infectious. The Premier and NSW Health has today issued stay-at-home orders to everyone who lives and works in four Sydney council areas - Sydney City, Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra. At this stage, none of the restrictions in Sydney or on the Central Coast apply to Lake Macquarie, but people who have been to Greater Sydney at any time in the past two weeks and returned to regional areas must wear a mask for two weeks in public areas, including workplaces, as a precaution. Please, do not travel to Sydney unless it's essential travel. If you have been to the Sydney metro area or eastern suburbs in recent days, please follow the NSW Health advice, which you can find here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 I've already been contacted by a number of people concerned about the NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Melbourne which has been scheduled for Hunter Stadium next Thursday. My view is that the game should go ahead but without a crowd - the last thing we need are Bondi residents and Sydney-based fans travelling to our region at the moment. It only takes one possibly-infected knucklehead to defy the stay-at-home order and 'seed' the latest outbreak here. I'll be raising it with the appropriate Minister. Remember, masks are again compulsory on public transport and in all indoor areas in Sydney, including workplaces. On a positive note, It's now been 323 DAYS days since we had a case of community transmission in the Hunter-New England Health District. Please help us keep that great record going!