Sydney bracing for surge in virus cases, concern over south-western hotspots

Sydney is bracing for a surge in coronavirus cases today, after the city's lockdown was extended by another week.

NSW Health authorities are concerned about the city's south west, where testing rates remain vastly lower than other suburbs.

Yesterday 27 cases were recorded, with seven of those were out in the community while infectious. But health chiefs are bracing for today's figures which could surpass that total.

READ MORE: Sydney students to learn from home next week

Three council areas - Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown and Liverpool - are on alert. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned tougher restrictions may be imposed on those areas.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she was concerned about the low testing numbers alongside high levels of transmission, particularly among household contacts in places such as Auburn, Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown.

According to the latest data, two weeks in the eastern suburb of Bondi they had 14,000 people come forward to get testing compared with fewer than 2000 in Fairfield.

Health experts warn that low testing rates could raise the risk of missing infectious cases in the community.

Under the lockdown extension, students in Sydney will be learning from home next week.

Ms Berejiklian confirmed schools will be closed to most students until Monday, July 19.

READ MORE: How to claim the COVID-19 Disaster Payment

Children of essential workers will be allowed to attend school in person if necessary.

"There will only be minimal staff supervision and schools will provide one unit of work for students, whether they are learning from home or in the classroom," a message from Education Department Secretary Georgina Harrison to school principals today read.

A staff development day scheduled for Monday will go ahead remotely.

The order applies to schools in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

The NSW Government will announce the latest virus case numbers later this morning.

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