Here's what you need to know this morning.

State uses special powers to address spread

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says police can force people who refuse to comply with Australia's new coronavirus self-isolation guidelines to stay home.

She also encouraged people to speak up if they saw others refusing to self isolate.

"There's additional advice we're putting up on the NSW Health website, but you can let the relevant authorities know and the police can turn up and enforce that person to stay home," she said.

Meanwhile, the NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has used special state powers to force the immediate cancellation of public events with more than 500 people.

Mr Hazzard said people who failed to comply with the new laws could face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $11,000.

Corporations would face larger fines, Mr Hazzard's office said in a statement.

Schools remain open in NSW

Ms Berejiklian says the NSW Government's decision to keep schools open remains under constant review, while authorities monitor the spread of COVID-19 across the state.

"For example, in some localities, if there's suddenly a cluster of cases you may decide to close down a series of schools for some period of time," Ms Berejiklian said.

"But at this stage, we think it's entirely appropriate as a policy to keep public schools open except under those circumstances."

Students will not be required to attend assemblies while other separation safeguards will reduce staff and pupil congregation.

University students test positive

Students at two Sydney universities have tested positive for COVID-19.

Six locations on the University of Sydney campus were cleaned yesterday after a student was diagnosed with the virus at the weekend.

The student is recovering in hospital.

NSW Health advised a UNSW student also tested positive for COVID-19 but was not contagious while on campus.

Third death at Sydney aged care facility

Residents at Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Sydney's north have been impacted by the outbreak. ( ABC News: Liv Casben )

There has been a third coronavirus-related fatality at an aged-care home in Sydney's north where an outbreak has taken hold.

A 90-year-old woman died at the weekend after contracting the virus at Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park.

An 82-year-old male resident and 95-year-old female resident died at the lodge earlier this month after contracting the virus.

Government 'dropped ball' over contamination

Chris Curtis said he was "gutted" after learning his family was exposed to heavy metals. ( ABC News: Luke Wong )

Transport for NSW has said it "dropped the ball" by failing to warn residents about significant contamination risks in a rail corridor for almost five years.

When Christopher Curtis and his family spent their life savings on a home in Tarago last year, it was supposed to be a new beginning.

But the amount of lead in his 17-month-old son's system found to be "on the threshold of acceptable levels" when he was tested.

