Sydney in lockdown: all the NSW restrictions explained

Sydney is essentially in lockdown with anyone who lives or works in four LGAs, including the City of Sydney, now under a stay at home order. Here are all the NSW Covid restrictions explained.

Sydney is set for another lockdown as the rest of Sydney will have mask restrictions extended.

Here is everything you need to know about Sydney Covid restrictions.

WHO MUST STAY AT HOME UNTIL AT LEAST MIDNIGHT JULY 2

Anyone who lives and works in LGAs:

* City of Sydney

* Waverley

* Woollahra

* Randwick

Anyone who has worked in these areas in the past two weeks must abide by the stay at home order, although people who have visited these areas for non-work purposes are exempt.

People should only enter these four LGAs for essential purposes.

ACCEPTED REASONS TO LEAVE HOME

* 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.

Those under lockdown can leave home to exercise outdoors. Picture: Damian Shaw

WHO CAN’T LEAVE METRO SYDNEY

Anyone who lives in LGAS:

* City of Sydney

* Randwick

* Woollahra

* Waverley

* Inner West

* Canada Bay

* Bayside

ACCEPTED REASONS FOR LEAVING METRO SYDNEY

* Taking a holiday is not a reasonable excuse

* Travelling to your home, work, education, childcare or for shared parenting arrangements

* Getting food or services that you cannot obtain in metropolitan Sydney

* Obtaining medical care, health supplies or to fulfil caring responsibilities

* Moving to a new home, business moving to a new premises, or inspecting a new place of residence

* To avoid injury, illness, and harm, or in an emergency situation

* Undertaking legal obligations

* Accessing public services (if they cannot be accessed in the metropolitan Sydney area).

Sydney is now under lockdown. Picture: Damian Shaw

RESTRICTIONS FOR GREATER SYDNEY

Restrictions for Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shoalhaven:

* Everyone must wear masks at all indoor non-residential settings including going to the shops, catching public transport, at work and at the gym

* People must have no more than five visitors at a time, including children. An overnight stay as part of a visit to someone’s house is allowed

* Venues such as stadiums, theatres and live entertainment venues are restricted to 50 per cent of seated capacity

* Hospitality workers whose functions require the person to deal directly with members of the public must wear a fitted face covering at all times.

WORKPLACES

Employers must allow an employee to work from home if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

If you go to your workplace, you must wear a face mask (unless an exemption applies).

CAPACITY LIMITS FOR BUSINESSES

Businesses may have the greater of:

25 people or one person per 4 square metres

SINGING

* Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship is not allowed.

You may only sing in non-residential indoor premises if:

* The singers are performers and they are performing or rehearsing

* The premises are an educational establishment

* It is part of a singing lesson.

DANCING

Dancing is not allowed at a hospitality venue or nightclub. Hospitality venues include casinos, food and drink premises, micro-breweries, small bars, pubs, and clubs.

For weddings, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people).

HOLIDAY HOME RESTRICTIONS

Up to five people may stay in a holiday home or holiday rental (unless those people are from the same household).

If you are staying at a holiday home or short-term rental with more than five people immediately before 6.20pm on Wednesday, June 23:

No additional people can move into the premises after that time; and

The 5-person limit does not apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where exactly is under lockdown?

Anyone who lives and works in four LGAs: City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick, must stay at home.

In addition to this, anyone who lives in City of Sydney, Randwick, Woollahra, Waverley, Inner West, Canada Bay and Bayside LGAs cannot leave metropolitan Sydney.

The entire of Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shoalhaven must abide by the mask rules and gathering restrictions announced on Wednesday.

I worked in Sydney last week – do I have to stay at home?

Yes. Anyone who has worked in City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick LGAs in the last two weeks must abide by the stay at home order.

This means if you’ve worked at a Sydney office but live in the west, you will still need to stay home.

I visited the city to go shopping – do I need to stay at home?

No. If you live outside the affected LGAs but have visited for non-work purposes, you do not need to stay at home. However, you should now stay away from these areas unless absolutely necessary.

Under what circumstances can I leave the house?

If you are affected by the stay at home orders, you are expected to make arrangements to work or receive education at home.

If your job doesn’t allow for working from home, you are still allowed to leave the house for essential work and education.

You are allowed to go outside for exercise, but only in groups of 10 or fewer.

You are also allowed to leave the house to give care or receive medical attention, and to buy essential items.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged Sydneysiders not to panic buy, and said no-one will be stopped from buying groceries and essential items.

Everyone must wear masks on public transport. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Can I still go to the gym?

No, if you live or work in the four LGAs in lockdown you should not go to the gym. You are only allowed to exercise outdoors.

It is expected that gyms in those LGAs will close.

Outside the lockdown areas gyms can remain open if everyone wears a mask.

Can my partner visit me?

Yes, if you and your partner both live in the lockdown area, you can visit each other. However you must not leave the area to visit an intimate partner.

For example, if you live in City of Sydney but your partner lives in the Blue Mountains, you mustn’t visit them.

What are the restrictions for the rest of Sydney?

Everyone in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shoalhaven must wear masks at all indoor non-residential settings.

This includes going to the shops, catching public transport, at work and at the gym.

Households in these areas must not have more than five visitors at a time, including children.

Venues such as stadiums, theatres and live entertainment venues are restricted to 50 per cent of seated capacity.

Singing and dancing is not allowed, except at weddings where 20 people can be on the dancefloor.

Gyms are limited to 20 people per class (indoor and outdoor) and patrons at licensed venues must stay seated when consuming alcohol.

I live in regional NSW but I work in Sydney, what's the advice?

If you have worked in Sydney in the last two weeks you must stay at home — regardless of where you live now.

If you haven’t been into the four LGAs in the last two weeks and live outside the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, then none of the restrictions apply to you.