Australia's state of New South Wales today (July 14) announced to extended the lockdown on the Greater Sydney and surrounding areas for at least another fortnight until July 30. The decision came after the state recorded 97 locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours to 8.00 pm on Tuesday night, out of 65,000 tests conducted overnight.

We are constantly reviewing the health advice and will continue to update the community if any changes are required," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said in a statement. "This means the restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will remain in place until this time."

Meanwhile, the joint commonwealth and state government package unveiled to cost more than usd 500m a week during the Sydney lockdown – sparked a fresh row between the federal and Victorian governments, with the latter accusing Scott Morrison of a “double standard” that favoured his home state.

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