Will Sydneys lockdown end on time?
Sydney has entered the critical days that will determine whether the two-week lockdown is extended beyond Saturday. NSW recorded 35 new cases on Monday  an equal daily high for the states coronavirus update. But just seven of those cases were infectious in the community and 24 were in isolation for the entire infectious period. The lockdown impacting Greater Sydney is due to end at 11.59pm on Friday, July 9. Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday warned the coming days would be critical in determining if the stay-at-home orders can end on time. RELATED: Fears cases could take off if lockdown ends  Health officials are worried about another positive case at SummitCare in Baulkham Hills reported on Tuesday  the third worker from the aged care home to test positive. Five residents have now contracted the virus there, too. Also of concern is a party held at Waterloo Meriton Suites on Saturday night that was attended by 13 NRL players. NSW Health is investigating. Behaviour outside the states coronavirus health orders could play a role in whether Sydney reopens on time. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner said on Tuesday morning there were more than 1000 reports across NSW on Sunday alone from people alerting to police behaviour that was outside of the orders. He said that 74 infringement notices were issued on Monday but that figure should be kept in context. When you look at the size of Sydney  we had some incredibly good weather (over the weekend) and over five million people in this city that were moving around, trying to get some exercise and enjoy some sunshine. The Party Games newsletter Get your political briefing from news.com.au's political editor Samantha Maiden. Sign up The Party Games newsletter Success! Check your inbox for details. See all newsletters  And then you sort of pitch that against the number of tickets or infringement notices that are issued and I think in the main, people in Sydney are doing a particularly good job.  NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told ABC Radio on Tuesday morning that he was on high alert but hopeful that he might be able to bring back some normalcy. If we can get to a stage where we know weve got (new cases) well-managed then well certainly be feeling more positive.  Coronacast host Norman Swan said on Tuesday morning that todays numbers will be important in determining whether lockdown ends on time but they are not the whole picture. I dont think that it is so much the case numbers as the number of people who have been circulating before they were diagnosed as positive, he told the ABC. Therefore, youve got more and more exposure sites and thats what seems to be emerging and its emerging in the southwestern suburbs, the inner south-west going to south-west. And what theyre worried about, I assume (is) a situation evolving such as you had in Melbourne in the north western suburbs where youve got people who are often disadvantaged, English is not their first language and are pressed to work and have to get out. He said contact tracers had a big job to do to cover so many primary and close contacts of positive cases. Some analysts are saying (it needs to get) down to single digits but it is more (a question of) where they all are and where theyve been when theyve tested positive.  University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely said that figure needs to be at zero before Greater Sydney can safely emerge from lockdown. For a lockdown to be successful, we really need to see the number of notified cases that are out in the community down to zero, he said. Professor Blakely said lifting the lockdown while there were still infectious cases popping up in the community could see the outbreak take off once more. If we just open up restrictions at that point, they will just take off again  thats just how the virus behaves, he said, adding its not only a risk for NSW, but the rest of Australia as well. He said if he was in the shoes of chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant he would be a bit worried that the numbers werent dropping.