UPDATE 26 JUNE 2021: THIS INFORMATION IS NOW OUT OF DATE AND ARCHIVED.
We have coordinated answers to the questions our readers are most frequently asking on social media regarding the stay at home orders and new restrictions affecting Sydney. These are at addendum, but first an overview:
People who live or work in four Sydney local government areas — including the CBD — will go into lockdown after NSW recorded 22 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, 25 June.
The affected local government areas (LGAs) are:
- Waverley
- Woollahra
- Randwick
- City of Sydney
People who live in those areas, or have worked in those areas in the past fortnight, including Northern Beaches residents who have been working in/attending these areas regularly, will be permitted to leave home only for four reasons until at least 11.59pm on Friday, 2 July:
- Shopping for food or other essential goods and services
- Medical care or compassionate needs
- Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer
- Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home
People should only enter these areas for one of the four reasons above.
These are the primary four questions we are getting from residents of the Northern Beaches:
1/ Is it the case that anyone who has worked in the CBD or other three affected LGAs in the last two weeks must now be in lockdown/subject to stay at home orders?
NSW Health: Yes. This applies to anyone who has spent a reasonable amount of time in these areas, such as a work day, attending university or a long period of shopping throughout any of the four areas during this period. You can still leave home for one of four reasons listed above.
2/ If someone from your home has worked in one of the four regions are you also now subject to stay at home orders ?
NSW Health: No. If someone in your home is subject to lockdown, it only affects that person.
3/ What are your restrictions if you have visited the four lgas but not worked or resided?
If it was for an extended period you must stay at home. If it was very brief you are exempt.
4/ Can people from non-affected LGAS still technically travel within NSW?
Manly MP James Griffin confirmed that those not in the affected LGAS are free to travel throughout NSW.
Regardless, the government is requesting that “Residents across greater Sydney should limit unnecessary activity and avoid large gatherings in coming days and comply with the current restrictions.”
You can view common questions with regard to the restrictions here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/changes
Previous restrictions announced still in place:
For anyone living in Greater Sydney (not including the four LGAs affected by stay-at-home-orders), the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains as well as the LGAs of Wollongong and Shellharbour:
- Visitors to households will be limited to five guests, including children
- Masks are compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, gyms and at organised outdoor events, and on public transport
- Drinking while standing at indoor venues is not be allowed
- Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by member of the congregation at indoor places of worship is not allowed
- Dancing is not allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs; however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people)
- Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn)
- The one person per four-square-metre rule is in place for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals
- Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent capacity
- Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced
