Thousands more Sydneysiders risk being plunged into isolation after Covid spread its tentacles across dozens of busy venues spanning 17 suburbs, from the virus-addled east to the north shore and a busy Parramatta shopping centre.
In an unprecedented late night drop of new exposure sites on Thursday, NSW Health put alerts out for a host of new venues including a Kmart, Dominos Pizza and several popular coffee shops.
Another shock development came as coronavirus fragments were found in a Bourke sewage treatment plant, 750km away from Sydney with not one single known case.
The wastewater finding indicates the virus may have already escaped the NSW capital and has somehow reached vulnerable outback areas.
Officials announced 11 new cases of the high-infectious Indian Delta strain of the deadly respiratory virus on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections linked to the Bondi cluster up to 36 - with several more lingering mystery cases.
Since the outbreak began last week, 181 exposure sites have been added to the burgeoning list - 33 of which were added on Thursday night alone in suburbs sprawling right across Australia's largest city.
A total of 181 exposure sites have been announced in Greater Sydney since the latest outbreak began, bringing in a raft of new restrictions (pictured, commuters in masks on Thursday)
This terrifying map shows the 17 suburbs announced as having Covid exposure sites in a worrying late night drop on Thursday
Covid-infected residents have been on 23 public transport routes, and anyone who visited one of 53 venues across Sydney over the past few days has been told to get a test and isolate immediately, regardless of the result, in fear they may be harbouring the virus undetected.
In the surprise late night announcement at 11pm, authorities demanded that anyone who has visited a series of cafes, restaurants and gyms across Bondi, Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Alexandria contact NSW Health immediately, get tested and isolate for 14 days even if the test is negative.
Anyone who dined at Coffee, Tea & Me in Potts Point or who visited the pool or the change rooms at the Elixr Health Club in Bondi Junction on Sunday has been told to do the same.
Likewise, cafe goers in the inner west who went to Cantine Verte Cafe or The Pommery Cafe in Alexandra on Monday has been given the same advice.
In Bondi, people who went to Elixr Health Club but did not go to the change rooms or the pool have been told to isolate until a negative test is returned.
Anyone who visited in Westfield Paramatta (pictured) on Wednesday has been told to isolate until they test negative after the shop was visited by an infected person
Commuters are seen wearing face masks as they arrive at Circular Quay by ferry on Thursday, as the number of Covid cases grew by 11 in Sydney
The same advice goes for anyone who went to Harry's Bondi, Bondi Relish, La Piadina, Lyfe Cafe, Royal Hotel, Fitness First Platinum or Fitness First on Spring Street in the beachside suburb on Sunday or Monday.
In the west, anyone who went to Amart Furniture in Bankstown on Sunday, Domino's Pizza or Big Bun in Merrylands on Monday, or Kmart in Westfield Paramatta on Wednesday has been told to isolate until they test negative.
Further south, shoppers who went to Crossroads Homemaker Centre in Casula on Sunday has been told to stay at home for 14 days until they get a negative test, or if they went to Gregory Hills Town Centre, in the city's south-west.
An exposure site was also added in North Sydney, with anyone who visited Priceline Pharmacy on Walker Street on Monday told to isolate until testing negative.
Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser.
It was initially revealed that the hairdresser, who lives in western Sydney, worked three consecutive nine-hour shifts at the salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19.
But in a another worrying development on Thursday night, NSW Health announced that the salon had been exposed to coronavirus for nine full days - from the moment it opened to the second it closed - between June 15 and June 23.
Skin Medi Spa and Wellness, in the same complex is under a similar order with anyone who visited from Wednesday June 16 to 23 Wednesday - at all times - urged to isolate and get tested immediately.
Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser (pictured, former WAG Phoebe Burgess at the salon earlier this week)
In the west, anyone who went to Amart Furniture in Bankstown on Sunday, Domino's Pizza (pictured) or Big Bun in Merrylands on Monday has also been told to get tested
Michel’s Charcuterie, also in Double Bay was also added on Thursday, with anyone who went to the cake shop on Tuesday June 22 between 1:30pm to 2pm, considered a close contact.
Mr Bailey told Daily Mail Australia that the ramifications of one staff member testing positive to Covid-19 were 'unbelievable'.
'We have over 1,000 customers and staff this has affected… who have to isolate,' he said.
The infected hairdresser is one of two potential super-spreader events in Sydney sending thousands of residents into isolation after being exposed to the highly-infectious Indian Delta variant.
As Joh Bailey's salon underwent a deep clean on Thursday – which he described as scenes resembling the Met Gala – Mr Bailey said the focus was on staff and customer health.
Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser (pictured, the salon being deep cleaned on Thursday)
Woolworths on Crown Street in Surry Hills (pictured) was also added to the list of exposure sites
'We are allowed to re-open, of course, but because all or most of our staff have to isolate - that's the problem we have right now.'
Mr Bailey is one of Australia's most sought-after hairdressers who has been at the top of his game for three decades.
His client list that reads like a who's-who of TV stars, socialites, politicians, business elite - and once even gave Princess Diana a makeover on her seminal 1983 Australian tour.
Clients include former WAG Phoebe Burgess and former Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley, and stars Elle Macpherson, Linda Evangelista, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, and Judy Davis.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Thursday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown - but has brought in a number of new restrictions
Ms Burgess even visited the salon for a blow dry earlier this week, but not during the times initially announced by NSW Health.
The star went to get a Covid test regardless back near her Southern Highlands home.
But under the revised rules, she and the other 1,000 customers who enjoyed a treatment over an eight day period will need to go back into isolation.
NSW Health officials contacted the salon on Wednesday morning to alert it to the positive case, and management closed the doors immediately.
The hairdresser, who commuted from the city's west for work each morning, has since infected three close contacts - with hundreds of others in isolation with fears it could lead to a massive outbreak.
A range of gyms in the eastern suburbs (pictured, Bondi's Elixir Health) have also been added to the list of new exposure sites
A 7-Eleven in Kensington, in the eastern suburbs, was also been added to the list of exposure sites late on Thursday night
'We wish to express our deepest gratitude to NSW Health for their incredible efficiency and support during the ongoing Covid-19 NSW outbreak,' Mr Bailey wrote on Instagram.
'In light of this, our Double Bay salon will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning and we will advise our re-opening date in due course.
'An enormous thank you to our valued clients and community who have reached out with messages and support of kindness.
'It is appreciated so much and we in turn wish everyone to remain safe, healthy and supported during this challenging global
