Sydney lockdown rules explained: What you can and can’t do

People who live or work across all of greater Sydney will need to abide by tough new Covid-19 rules for the next two weeks.

Sydney’s seven-day snap lockdown has been widened beyond the four local government areas announced on Friday and will extend to two weeks.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the tough new measures in her second Covid-19 press conference on Saturday, hours after the state posted 12 new infections.

From 6pm on Saturday everybody living in greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong can only leave home for four reasons until midnight on Friday, July 9:

For essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer.

Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a Covid-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact)

Shopping for essential goods and services.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian widened the lockdown for all of greater Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Under the latest rules, community sport will not be permitted, masks must continue to be worn in all indoor areas, funerals will be limited to one person per four square metres with a cap of 100 people.

Weddings will also not be permitted from 11.59pm on Sunday, June 27.

What if I live outside a locked down area?

The following CovidSafe measures apply throughout the state:

• No more than five visitors in your home, including children.
• All hospitality has to be seated – one person per four square metres
• Only a 50 per cent capacity for outdoor events
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues not allowed
• Dancing not allowed at indoor hospitality venues
• Singing by audiences and choirs at indoor venues or by congregants at indoor places of worship not allowed.
• Dancing not allowed at nightclubs, but allowed at weddings – no more than 20 people.
• Dance and gym classes limited to 20 people per class – masks must be worn.
• Mask wearing in all indoor settings
• Restrictions in relation to funerals and weddings.

Sydneysiders will only be able to leave home for four reasons for the next two weeks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

I don’t live in the affected local government areas, but I do work there. Am I affected?

Ms Berejiklian said that if you have been working in any local government areas either part time or permanently in the past two weeks you are subject to the stay-at-home order.

“So it doesn't matter where you live. If you’ve worked in those four local government areas, you’re subject to that as well. That includes me,” she said.

“I don’t live in the four local government areas but I work in the CBD on most days, therefore, I am subject to the restrictions. I can’t leave my home, and that starts today.”

What if I can’t do my work from home and have to go to one of the affected areas?

“Essential work” is allowed – so that means many could reasonably be allowed to enter the lockdown zone.

Ms Berejiklian mentioned takeaway food and grocery stores as examples of essential services. A tweet from Mr Hazzard mentioned retail as essential as well.

“If you are a business in those four local government areas, unfortunately, unless you are providing essential food and services, that is takeaway food and services or grocery services of that nature, we don‘t expect those businesses to remain open in the next week,” Ms Berejiklian said.

We received more information from chief health officer Kerry Chant as well.

“We ask people to work from home if they can, but essential workers need to move around, and that‘s under any restrictions regimen,” Dr Chant said.

“But we ask that you work at home if you can.”

Can I visit the four affected areas?

If you don’t live there, you may only visit for “essential purposes”, such as work, education or medical care.

A nurse conducts a Covid-19 swab test at the Rushcutters Bay mobile Covid testing clinic. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

I don’t live with my partner, can I visit them?

Dr Chant said there would be some allowances made for visits to intimate partners.

“We always have some components which are around intimate partner visits, and that will extend in this circumstance,” she said.

“But we are actually asking the community to work with us.”

Can I go out to get my Covid-19 vaccination?

Going out to get vaccinated will be considered essential and allowed as well.