This blockade started from Saturday evening and will last until July 9. More than 5 million residents can only leave their home to get health checks, go to school or buy essentials.

In the past few days, New South Wales recorded 80 new cases of COVID-19.

State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that there was no point doing blockade for three days or five days because it wouldn't have done the job. 

The advice of health experts was two weeks, but blockade can be lifted sooner if the situation improves significantly, he said.