NSW cases hit 1219 as tighter lockdown measures and police presence looms

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that if the number of new COVID-19 cases do not start dropping, NSW will have to introduce tighter lockdown measures.

At 8.30am today, the death toll in NSW sat at seven with 16 people seriously ill in ICU.

During her regular morning briefing Premier Gladys Berejiklian hinted she was ready to roll out more stringent measures in the state.

NSW Police will hit anyone breaching self-isolation rules with on-the-spot fines of $1000. New laws will also allow police to fine or even jail people for breaching social distancing requirements.

Each morning, NSW Health releases the statistics, which are accurate to 8:00pm the previous day.

In the 24 hours to 8:00pm Tuesday, there were 212 new infections but this morning, NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant revealed that number had decreased slightly.

Premier also said tougher border controls would be implemented to ensure no one disembarks any ships in NSW until stricter protocols are introduced. It comes after the Ruby Princess debacle, which has seen an increasing number of coronavirus cases after almost 2700 passengers were allowed to disembark on March 19. There were now 147 cases of COVID-19 from the Ruby Princess, 121 of which are in NSW.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Thursday said there are now 1219 cases in NSW, an increase of 190 new cases since the last update. Dr Chant said she expected numbers to increase as more people arrive back from overseas.

Passengers arriving at Sydney Airport have been seen crowded together in lines, appearing not to adhere to social distancing requirements.

Video shot this morning by a pilot shows dozens of people – only some wearing masks – huddled together as they wait at the arrivals gate.

There are concerns about whether screening processes such as temperature checks are happening as many of the coronavirus cases here have originated overseas.