NSW Premier Gladys Berjeklian said in this morning's media briefing:
" There will be no information today about whether Sydney’s two-week lockdown will be extended. It’s currently due to lift next week."
This means that the lockdown to midnight of July 9 stays for the areas of Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour, Central Coast and Wollongong.
The restrictions are summarised as follows:
Ms Berjeklian reported that there were 31 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. She was glad to say that "this was not as high as it could have been" and that there were 76,000 people who came forward to be tested. She and Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer urged everyone with the littlest symptom to be tested.
The Premier highlighted that:
"Our success during the lockdown depends on eight million of us. Each of us has a role to play, because every time we leave the house, we could have the virus unintentionally, not knowing that we do, or we could come into contact with somebody that does.
"I think all of us have equal responsibility during this time to do the right thing and that is why it is so important for all of us to keep working together.
"Please know that what we have seen to date is not unexpected. Everything we have seen to date is expected but what we would like to see, especially during the early part of next week, is that the number of people who have been exposed or have exposed the virus in the community has reduced."
In the meantime, National Cabinet has agreed to halve the number of people allowed into Australia each week and to set up vaccination targets.
Speaking after today's National Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that by July 14, international arrivals will be capped at 3,035 people a week, down from 6,370. But while the commercial flight numbers will be cut, he said that the Commonwealth, would increase the number of repatriation flights.
He also announced the federal government would conduct a trial of a shorter seven-day quarantine period with a small number of vaccinated travellers, instead of 14 days. Mr Morrison said South Australia had flagged its willingness to work with the government on the trial.
As for vaccination targets, the Prime Minister said a percentage target would be decided once modelling showed how many people would need the jab for it to be effective against the spread of the Delta variant.
He was happy to report that the group of state and territory leaders did agree to a four-phase plan. However, he would not put a timeline on when he hoped Australia would reach the final phase.
"This is an evidence-led process," he said.