NSW Covid update: Singing, dancing, hospitality rules extended

Leading epidemiologists have said QR codes could be more useful if they were only required in high risk settings.

Winding back QR code check-ins to just high risk venues where people are likely to be at risk of catching Covid would help people better monitor for symptoms if they came into contact with a positive case, leading epidemiologists say.

A raft of Covid restrictions including an indoor mask mandate and the ban on singing and dancing have been extended for another month as part of a “cautious” approach to instil “confidence” in the community.

Compulsory use of QR code check-ins in indoor venues was also extended for a month despite Premier Dominic Perrottet admitting health authorities are not “tracking and tracing” Covid cases.

Experts are hopeful that NSW has passed its Omicron peak, but health authorities believe daily cases may increase when school resumes.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant deliver a Covid-19 update. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Perrottet announced the extension of Covid restrictions on Tuesday while pledging to restart elective surgery by mid-February.

The number of people in ICU with Covid dropped by seven on Tuesday, but there was an increase of people in hospital with Covid — a total of 2943 people.

Twenty-nine people died with Covid during the reporting period.

There were just over 18,500 tests reported on Tuesday.

Experts said extending density limits, mask requirements, and a ban on singing and dancing would have a useful impact in controlling the spread of Covid.

However, leading epidemiologists said QR codes could be more useful if they were only required in high risk settings.

“If you made it more focused, then people were being told when they’ve had a bigger risk rather than any vague risk,” Deakin University’s Professor Catherine Bennett said.

Australian National University Professor Peter Collignon agreed.

“I wonder what the value of QR coding everywhere is other than (at) really high risk venues,” he said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has been in discussions surrounding QR codes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

It came after Premier Perrottet revealed officials had a “robust discussion” about whether to extend current QR code rules.

“On reflection and debate, we all came to the conclusion yesterday that the best thing we can continue to do in this state is instil confidence in our people, and the reality is for a lot of people across NSW, they feel confident checking in,” he said.

“If that provides that confidence to people to go out, to visit retail, to go out to the pub, to go out to the restaurant, then we’ll keep them in during this period of time.”

Prof Collignon said restrictions like density limits and the dancing ban were likely to remain “in some degree” for at least a year.

But he said authorities need to be careful not to “overdo it” with restrictions.

“I think lockdowns should be gone forever,” Prof Collignon said.

Cars queue at the Bondi Beach drive through testing site on January 2. Picture: Damian Shaw

The same testing site on Tuesday, January 25. Picture: Toby Zerna

It comes as the NSW Government’s acceptance of rapid antigen tests as a valid diagnosis for Covid-19 has led to lines at testing centres across the city to collapse, with PCR tests plunging to their lowest numbers since November.

Highlighting how quickly life in a pandemic can change, close contacts or potential Covid-19 infections are now able to walk straight into testing centres throughout Sydney – a far cry from just weeks ago where punters lined up for hours on foot or in snaking lines of cars stretching for kilometres.

The Covid testing line at 4Cyte Pathology at Ultimo on December 29, 2021. Picture: Richard Dobson

The same testing site on Tuesday, January 25. Picture: Richard Dobson

At Bondi on Tuesday, residents seeking a PCR swab could drive straight into the beachside testing centre – an unrecognisable scene compared to December and early January, when a log-jam of punters idled in their vehicles for hours awaiting testing.

Just days before New Year’s Eve, the line for testing at Surry Hills’ walk-in clinic at Albion Street stretched around the block.

But on Tuesday it was just a few lone attendees who could be seen walking straight in and out of the facility.

The Covid testing line at The Albion Centre in Surry Hills on December 29 Picture: Richard Dobson

The same testing site on Tuesday, January 25. Picture: Richard Dobson

ALL THE Covid RULES EXTENDED IN NSW

Covid restrictions implemented in an effort to curb rising Omicron cases in NSW have been extended until the end of February.

It comes as 29 more people died from the virus and 18,512 new cases were recorded on Tuesday.

Here are the rules that remain in place:

– Hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cages, and nightclubs must follow the one person per two square metre rule indoors

– Masks are required in all indoor settings (except residences). Masks are strongly encouraged where you cannot maintain a safe distance from others

– QR code check-ins are compulsory at certain premises, including hospitality venues and retail shops

– Singing and dancing is not permitted in hospitality venues, entertainment facilities, nightclubs, indoor music festivals and indoor major recreation facilities (except for weddings, performers, instructors and students)