Political and business leaders across Griffith and the MIA have reacted to the news regional NSW will remain under lockdown for a further two weeks.
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On Thursday morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced all of regional NSW would remain subject to stay-at-home orders until at least September 10.
The lockdown extension came as the state recorded its highest daily total of COVID-19 cases to date with 1029 new locally acquired cases.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said she wasn't surprised by the news and called for more support to be given to struggling businesses across the region.
"I've spoken to restaurant owners who are getting no financial support at all yet they have lost more than half their revenue because they can only offer takeaway," Mrs Dalton said.
"If the Government is going to force people to stay at home they need to support them to do so."
Mrs Dalton called for the Federal Government to reinstate JobKeeper to help keep businesses and residents afloat.
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Griffith mayor John Dal Broi said he was slightly disappointed but not surprised by the extension.
"We haven't had a case here but I am not shocked because of some of the cases or close contacts we've had in towns and cities not far from us," Cr Dal Broi said.
"We've been lucky, people have been very good, they've gotten tested and our vaccination rate is high but unfortunately we've got to live with it.
"I know a lot of people are inconvenienced but all I can ask is they try the best they can to live within the conditions outlined in the health orders."
This sentiment was echoed by Leeton mayor Paul Maytom, who said vaccination was the clear way out of the lockdown.
"Hopefully once we get to that 80 per cent vaccinated rate they can at least start opening up at least out here in the regional areas," Cr Maytom said.
"The quicker we get people vaccinated the better chance we have of opening up again."
Businesses across Griffith and the MIA have been seriously impacted by a lack of sales since the lockdown was first called, with many forced into introducing delivery and takeaway systems in desperate bids to stay afloat.
Griffith Business Chamber president Paul Pierotti said the local business community was "extremely disappointed" by the news.
"Within our area we've never had a case and the people in our region have done the right thing," Mr Pierotti said.
"For this government to punish the regional areas who have no cases is really improper and there needs to be much better consultation."
Mr Pierotti said the lockdown has been devastating for local businesses and called on the NSW Government to introduce a ring of steel around areas with COVID-19 infections.
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