Coronavirus bans: Sydneysiders visiting Central Coast, Hunter areas told to stay away
Sydneysiders keen to self-isolate on the Central Coast and Hunter regions have been sent a clear message — go home.
Central Coast
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The message is clear – unless you are a local, stay away from the Central Coast and Hunter regions.
With COVID-19 continuing to spread and lockdown laws tightening, Sydneysiders have been getting away from the city and coming to the coast and Hunter regions to self isolate.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has today called on NSW residents to cut all travel to regional areas until we stop the spread of coronavirus.
“The reality is that in the region we have an ageing population and fewer medical services than you have here in the cities, which means the virus could be deadly for our regional towns already doing it tough,” he said.
“Now is not the time to capitalise on a cheap holiday and councils and regional communities have made themselves abundantly clear, they don’t want you at this time.
“If you live in the regions you must make the tough call to tell any friends and family in the city you’ll see them at Christmas, no sooner.”
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch agreed, saying the coast currently had the fourth highest count of COVID-19 cases in the state. The coast is at 91 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while the Hunter New England region is at 208.
“The way to stop this increasing is for everyone to follow the restrictions and social distancing rules,” Mr Crouch said.
“If your residential address is not a Central Coast suburb, it’s important that you go home.
“The way to combat COVID-19 is to keep everyone at home.”
Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews welcomed any further actions to minimise the transmission of coronavirus with council recently closing tips, public play spaces, outdoor fitness equipment and skate parks.
“Whilst exercise is important for our physical and mental health, now is not the time to be travelling far from home,” she said.
“The more we move about the higher the risk of transmission of this virus. I encourage you all to stay at home, exercise in your own localities. Now is not the time to be packing up and taking day trips.”
Gosford state Labor MP Liesl Tesch took to social media today urging people that travelling to the coast to visit family and friends was “not an option” with current restrictions indicating that regional travel was “not a reasonable excuse” to leave home.
HomeHost chief executive officer Gabriel Sarajinsky said he had people from certain regional areas urging the AirBnB management agency not to tell people about properties in the region.
However it is a different story with Sydney holiday properties, with an 80 to 90 per cent drop in business.
“We have had over 140 properties on the books with 90 per cent of the bookings over the next few months cancelling,” Mr Sarajinsky said.
“It’s a nightmare, however we have managed to secure a few long term bookings.”
He said the agency was trying let the government know they are open to helping people needing to self-isolate or quarantine in comfort.
“We have more than 5000 properties that could be offered to people flying in that need to go into quarantine,” he said.