Month: July 2021

More than a thousand schools now have access to extra equipment to assist online learning for the start of Term 3.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said a major operation has been undertaken so that thousands of devices and supplies are available for schools across the state.
“We have acquired an additional 12,000 devices and are currently distributing thousands of them to the schools that need them,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Last term, we surveyed schools to make sure they were still prepared for learning from home. This proactive approach allowed us to identify and rapidly plug any gaps in technology access, devices, and support in our schools.
“I’m confident in our schools’ ability to continue managing the pandemic, and in our teachers’ commitment to putting the education of their students first.”
The Department of Education has secured an additional 7000 laptops and 5000 dongles. This is in addition to the more than 13,000 devices and 8,000 dongles provided to support learning from home in 2020.
“We are working with vendors to secure even more equipment, should it be required,” Ms Mitchell said.
More hygiene and safety supplies are also being sent to schools across NSW so they can operate in a COVID-Safe way throughout the Term.
“All schools are receiving top-up supplies for Term 3, including packs of masks, hand sanitiser and surface wipes,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The health of students and staff during the pandemic has always been our priority, and parents should feel confident their child’s school is well equipped to keep them as safe as possible.”
Deliveries are underway and all schools will receive a starter pack by today.
In total, these include approximately:

• Masks –  440,000
• Hand sanitiser – 250,000 bottles
• Wipes – 320,000 wipes
• Gloves – 320,000 wipes
• Hand Soap – 130,000 bottles

An additional 9.3 million masks will be sent to schools across the state by the end of next week.

Police have issued more than 100 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for breaches of the Public Health Act in 24 hours, including 30 related to three separate gatherings.
About 3.30pm yesterday (Saturday 10 July 2021), officers from Inner West Police Area Command received information that a group had gathered at a premises on Marrickville Road, Marrickville.
Police attended and found 15 men sitting around a table playing cards in a smoke-filled room.
The men – aged between 56 and 89 – were all issued $1000 PINs for fail to comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 COVID-19 and directed to return home.
Just after 11pm, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command attended an underground carpark on Arthur Street, Merrylands West, following a noise complaint.
On arrival, police could hear music and voices coming from behind a closed garage door. When the occupants opened the door, it revealed five men in their 20s, playing PlayStation.
The men, who were from various suburbs across Sydney, were directed to return home immediately and will be issued with $1000 PINs.
In a third incident, Auburn Police attended a unit on Olympic Boulevarde at Sydney Olympic Park, about 12.30am today (Sunday 11 July 2021), after reports of a party.
Police located ten people, aged between 18 and 20, hiding throughout the unit and established they were celebrating an 18^th birthday stating they were unaware of the current public health orders.
After advising partygoers they’d all receive $1000 PINs, police shut the party down and sent them home.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said people are still making a conscious decision to not stay at home and not comply with the Public Health Orders.
“These examples highlight incredibly selfish and irresponsible behaviour, which we cannot and will not tolerate,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“We have said all along police will be firm but fair, but we are now in the position where we need to be more firm than fair.
“Police will continue to be visible right across the state and we simply ask people to work with us and do the right thing.”
In total, 106 PINs were issued yesterday, with 43 of those $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
A further 16 people were charged with failing to comply with Public Health Orders. All of those charges were associated with other criminal offences.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

High-visibility police operations are continuing across NSW to ensure compliance with current restrictions under the Public Health Act.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said the geography of the police operation would expand in line with the spread of cases across Sydney.
“By the accounts of police on the ground yesterday, there were high levels of compliance across Sydney’s south-west, which is promising for reducing the risk of contracting COVID in those areas,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“As we have seen an increase of cases in other areas, including Sutherland and Hurstville, we will be allocating resources to ensure compliance in those areas and surrounds.”
Further to the deployment across Sydney’s south-west, additional proactive operations were conducted across the Greater Sydney area.
Part of police operations in Sydney CBD includes conducting guest compliance checks at hotels and last night, six guests at a hotel on Kent Street were found to be in breach of the current public health orders. Checks revealed one woman – aged 26 – was wanted on an outstanding warrant and charged to appear in court today (Saturday 10 July 2021).
“Disappointingly, we did see some concerning incidents of people flouting the rules – including a gathering at a home at Randwick and a birthday party at The Entrance.
“This type of behaviour is nothing short of disrespectful – we’ve already seen how easily the virus spread following the unlawful party at Waterloo.”
About 1.20pm yesterday (Friday 9 July 2021), officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended a home on Arthur Street, Randwick, after being told of a potential gathering.
Police spoke with two men outside the property, one of whom said he was delivering a package, but did not have a package.
A total of eight men – aged between 31 and 50 – were located around the home, including one man hiding behind a shower curtain in the bathroom.
Inquiries revealed three men were residents, while the other five resided in Sydney’s south west. As all were breaching current Public Health Orders, all eight were issued $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs), with the five non-residents sent home.
About 9.40pm yesterday, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District responded to reports of a house party on Norberta Avenue, The Entrance.
On arrival, police spoke with six people – aged between 17 and 22 – who were drinking and celebrating an 18^th birthday, which was in breach of the Public Health Orders.
The 17-year-old girl was issued a warning under the Young Offenders Act, while the other five people were issued $1000 PINs.
In total, 167 PINs were issued yesterday, with 76 of those $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
A further ten people were charged with failing to comply with Public Health Orders. All of those charges were associated with other criminal offences.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today welcomed a package of measures announced by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) to support small businesses and homeowners affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.
The ABA package is aimed at helping eligible customers significantly impacted by restrictions, and includes up to three-month repayment deferrals for small businesses, refunds of merchant terminal fees for up to three months and loan deferrals on a month-by-month basis for eligible homeowners and small business customers.
“This is a vital step by the banking industry and a strong show of support for businesses and homeowners during a particularly tough period,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It will help give peace of mind to many and shows that the banks are willing to work with people who are doing it tough and help find solutions.”
The ABA represents Australia’s largest financial institutions and it estimates the package may cover to up 98 percent of small businesses across the country.
“The banking industry recognises that keeping businesses in business, people in jobs and in their own homes is vital to the economy and our future,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Government, business and the community must all work together and the banks have acted quickly and shown leadership and a strong commitment to help.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government continued to work with the broader business community to identify areas that most needed help, and would continue to build on the COVID-19 support package, which is worth up to $1.4 billion, announced last week.
The Government’s package includes support grants of between $5000 and $10,000 for eligible businesses impacted by the recent restrictions. Applications will open later in July. More information on eligibility criteria is available here.
More information on the ABA’s package of measures – which is subject to re-authorisation by the ACCC – is available here.

Given the growing number of infectious cases in the community and unlinked cases of community transmission, COVID-19 restrictions will be tightened across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
From 5pm today (Friday, 9 July) the following additional restrictions will be in place:

• Outdoor public gatherings limited to two people (excluding members of the same household);
• People must stay in their Local Government Area or within 10kms of home for exercise and outdoor recreation, with no carpooling between non-household members;
• Browsing in shops is prohibited, plus only one person per household, per day may leave the home for shopping;
• Funerals limited to ten people in total (this will take effect from Sunday, 11 July).

The four reasons to leave your home remain in place:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only);
• Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons);
• Exercise with no more than 2 (unless members of the same household);
• Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

Restrictions in regional NSW will remain unchanged.
These tightened restrictions are based on health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
They are necessary due to the increasing number of unlinked cases in the community.
We understand this is a difficult time for the community and businesses. We thank them for their understanding and patience.
High testing numbers are key to finding unrecognised chains of transmission in the community, so please continue to come forward for a COVID-19 test, even if you have the mildest of symptoms.
For the latest information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Based on Health advice, the first week of Term 3 for schools in NSW will either be under a learning from home model or with strict COVID restrictions.
Beyond the first week of Term 3 strict COVID safe restrictions will be in place.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said she understood it was a challenging time for students, staff and parents, but she has complete confidence that schools are prepared to manage the restrictions.
“For the first week of Term 3 we will have different settings in schools impacted by the stay-at-home orders to those that are not,” Ms Mitchell said.
For schools inside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour):

• For the first four days of Term 3 students will be learning from home.
• This will stay in place until Friday 16 July.
• Schools will remain open for students and families who need it.
• Masks will be required for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

For schools outside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Regional NSW):

• For the first week of Term 3 students will be back at school for face to face learning.
• Schools will restrict non-essential visitors at school sites, including parents.
• Adjustments will be made to some activities, such as choir and band.
• Masks will be recommended for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

“All students across NSW will return to face to face learning from Monday 19 July,” Ms Mitchell said.
Schools across areas impacted by stay-at-home orders are ready to operate learning from home for their students.
“All schools recently completed a readiness assessment to prepare for any potential return to learning from home,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I’m confident our schools are prepared for learning from home for the first four days of Term 3, using combinations of digital and printed learning packs similar to those used last year.”
The HSC continues as planned, with the HSC oral language, performance and practical exams scheduled to go ahead in Term 3 and written exams in Term 4.
“To our HSC students I say please stay calm, focus on your studies and look after each other.
“NESA has arrangements in place to ensure no student is disadvantaged if they have been unable to work on HSC major projects during the holiday period, or they are affected by extended stay-at-home orders.”
More information is available at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families