• NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the next few days will be “critical” to determining whether Greater Sydney and its surrounds will emerge from lockdown on Friday after new local COVID cases jumped by 35 yesterday. As for the rest of Oz, only Queensland (3) recorded any new local cases yesterday. And looking westwards, Perth and the Peel region woke up to eased restrictions this morning, like no more wearing masks outdoors.

• More than 600 Sydney hospital staff have been told to isolate after a student nurse worked in 2 hospitals while infectious. Adding to officials’ woes, 5 COVID cases have been linked to an outbreak at an aged care home in northwest Sydney. It’s been revealed that two-thirds of the home’s staff were unvaccinated.

• And Berejiklian yesterday appealed to residents to follow the stay-at-home order, saying she was “disappointed” to hear of breaches. That included NRL team St George with 12 players attending a BBQ at Shellharbour on Saturday night. Those involved have copped suspensions and been fined more than $300,000.