More areas in the western region are expected to enter lockdown after the number of active COVID cases in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) rose to 42 on Saturday.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian described Saturday as the "most concerning day" of the pandemic so far in NSW with 466 total cases of COVID-19 recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm, Friday.
Speaking at Saturday morning's update, Ms Berejiklian confirmed the stay-at-home orders announced for Dubbo and eight surrounding local government areas last week could be extended to other LGAs in the WNSWLHD.
Up to 9am on Saturday, NSW Health reported there were 16 new cases in Dubbo and one in Walgett.
The total number of active cases in the region is now 42. Thirty-eight are located in Dubbo, four are located in Walgett and none are currently in hospital.
The Indigenous communities in the region remain a particular area of concern with the majority of new cases young Aboriginal people in West Dubbo.
Dubbo Regional Council mayor Stephen Lawrence said the situation is "effectively a crisis" and urged Aboriginal people in West Dubbo to be advocates for their community and promote the "urgent" message to stay at home.
"The large majority of these new positive cases are Aboriginal people in Dubbo and, in turn, the majority of those are in West Dubbo," councillor Lawrence said on Saturday.
"It's really, really important for the Aboriginal community to be strong advocates, as they have been, on this issue.
"I'd like to send a message to the Aboriginal community and call upon all members to be advocates in your own community.
"If you're an Aboriginal person living in West Dubbo, for example, you can help by contacting your family and friends, especially people you think might not be hearing these important public messages.
"Speak to your sons and daughters, speak to your nieces and nephews, speak to your cousins, speak to young people, speak to your family.
"Explain to them the really urgent need to stay home."
There were more than 9000 tests done in the western region on Friday and more than 5000 of those were in Dubbo.
Harsher punishments to be introduced in the state from Monday were also flagged by the premier on Saturday. They will include increased fines for public health order breaches and increased random checkpoints at key roads.
"Importantly for regional New South Wales, you will need a permit to go into regional New South Wales, whether you are in authorised worker, travelling to a second home because you might be a worker utilising a second home or inspecting real estate, you will need a permit, which will be effective from next Saturday," she said.
Under the system, any person who wishes to travel to regional NSW for one of the following reasons must have a permit which will be made available on Service NSW:
- Authorised workers from LGAs of concern.
- Inspecting real estate. Any person inspecting real estate in the regions must now genuinely need a home to live in (no investment properties).
- Travelling to your second home. This is now only allowed if you are using the home for work accommodation or if the home requires urgent maintenance and repairs (if so, only one person may travel there).
The new fines for breaches, to come into effect from 12.01am on Monday, August 16, include:
- $5000 on-the-spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules.
- $5000 on-the-spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence).
- $5000 on-the-spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence).
- $3000 on-the-spot fine for breaching the two person outdoor exercise/recreation rule.
- $3000 on-the-spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.
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