Seven weeks after Greater Sydney was plunged into lockdown, the news keeps getting worse.
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In the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, 466 new local cases of Covid were recorded in the state, a new record for daily case numbers.
There were also four deaths recorded, which included a woman in her 40s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s.
The move prompted NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to tighten restrictions further in a bid to quash virus numbers, including introducing a five-kilometre limit for residents in Greater Sydney to carry out essential activities like exercise or shopping for food.
Just hours later, it was then announced that all of regional NSW would be entering a lockdown from 5pm on Saturday.
However, news of the statewide lockdown came not from the daily press conference but in announcements on social media made by regional state MPs.
Virus case numbers continue to be the main talking point across most of the country, with a further 21 cases recorded in Victoria, while Queensland registered six new cases in the community.
The ACT, which has entered the second day of its seven-day lockdown, recorded just one new case of Covid in the territory, but officials are still trying to determine how the virus came from Sydney into the ACT.
While there may have been delays of up to eight hours for some people to get tested, the capital had its highest day of testing numbers, with more than 4500 tests conducted, or roughly 1 per cent of the entire ACT population.
In a rare bit of good news, however, a Melbourne cleaner who lost his job due to the pandemic has become one of the country's biggest lottery winners.
The North Melbourne man picked up $80 million in Thursday night's Powerball draw and is the third-biggest lottery winner in the country.
While he chose to remain anonymous, he said he would use the winnings to set up his children for life while also helping as many people as possible.
"I am certainly keen to pay off the mortgage and the other bills we have to begin with," he said.
"There's so much we will be able to do with this prize. It will change so many people's lives."
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THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- All regional NSW to enter lockdown to combat Covid spread: John Barilaro
- Sydney crackdown after 466 NSW virus cases
- 'Most concerning day' of pandemic in NSW with 466 COVID-19 cases, four deaths
- Six new COVID-19 cases in Queensland
- 'I didn't do anything wrong': Canberra's first Covid case speaks out
- ACT records one new Covid case
- Melbourne cleaner sweeps up $80 million
- Watch as divers capture group of grey nurse sharks, and photographer wrestles camera back from octopus
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
