NSW Covid lockdown: Buddy bubble for children under 18

The NSW crisis cabinet has agreed to a new rule allowing children aged under 18 to form a “buddy bubble.” Here is how it will work.

Kids’ play-dates are back, with children under 18 allowed to form a “friends bubble” in groups of three from today.

The measure, signed off by the state government crisis cabinet last night, means parents will be able to drop their child off at a friend’s house for the day to get some lockdown relief.

Each bubble will be exclusive; children must stick in their groups of three and cannot change their mind about which friends to visit.

Everyone must live within 5km of each other or in the same LGA, and all adults in the childrens’ households must be fully vaccinated.

The NSW Government will announce a new buddy system for kids during school holidays, pleasing Millie Jelley, 9, (left) with her sister Celia, 6. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Gladys Berejiklian’s Covid crisis cabinet signed off on the measure on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Parents and carers must not interact with each other when dropping kids off at their friend’s house.

The rule will come into effect from midday on Tuesday and will apply to all areas of NSW in lockdown.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the measure was possible because of our “strong vaccination rate”.

“Parents and children have had a difficult few months, trying to balance both work, often from home, as well as home schooling,” she said.

“This change will hopefully make a big difference for families during the school holidays and allow young children and teenagers to catch up and reconnect with their friends.”

Allowing trios of friends to get together will also enable Year 12 students to create an exclusive study bubble ahead of the HSC.

“These latest changes are aimed at giving children more opportunities to be together and balances Covid safety with their mental health and wellbeing,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said yesterday.

Celia Jelley, 6, (left) and her sister Millie, 9, are looking forward to seeing their friends again Picture: Jonathan Ng

Winston Hills mum Fay Jelley said the new initiative to allow a ‘buddy bubble’ for kids was a great way for her daughters Celia, 6 and Millie, 9, to spend some quality in-person time with their friends who they have missed for months.

“[The girls] have not had contact apart from online with their friends and they’ve definitely missed out on having that connection,” she said.

“It will definitely benefit parents too.

“We are human beings and human beings are not used to living in isolation.”

Millie said she was “really happy” to be able to see her friends again and was so excited she was not sure what game she would play first.

Younger sister Celia, on the other hand, said she was keen to “watch a movie and share all my toys with my best friend” after celebrating her sixth birthday in lockdown recently.