New virus restrictions put in place in Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore

Four areas in NSW will now be subject to a list of restrictions after the Queensland coronavirus outbreak spread across the border. These are all the rules.

Four NSW shires have been placed under new restrictions following the community spread of coronavirus on the north coast.

Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore Shires will be subject to the new rules, which include having to wear masks in shops and on public transport.

People are also being urged not to leave their local area.

There will be caps on visitors to people’s homes, and new rules for hospitality venues.

People must now wear a mask at Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The new rules for the four shires will be:

• Maximum of 30 people inside people’s homes
• 4sqm rule for hospitality businesses, meaning each person admitted to a venue must have four square metres to themselves.
• No standing up at hospitality venues
• Masks must be worn in retail stores and on public transport
• Masks must be worn by hospitality workers and drivers

“The positive news in all of this is we’re not saying to businesses shut your doors, quite the opposite,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at a morning press conference.

“We are saying you can keep your doors open but because of the risk that is there, we want you to be extra cautious.”

The Premier also expressed a “strong preference” that people in the four shires not leave those areas. However, she said that would not be made mandatory.

Byron Bay is among the four areas subject to new rules. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Scott Powick

“We won’t be policing that but it is very strong advice,” she said.

“If there is community transmission, we don’t want it seeded to other parts of NSW.”

She also asked people from other parts of the state to not enter the four shires if they can avoid it.

“If you do chose to go, you’ll be subject to these extra restrictions when you’re there,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The return to tougher COVID-19 restrictions in the four shires surrounding the town of Byron Bay comes after a coronavirus outbreak in Queensland spread south of the border.

Officials believe a person who attended a hen’s party in Byron Bay may have spread the virus there.

People are being urged to get tested in Byron Bay if they have symptoms. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Scott Powick

It’s the first time since March 17 that NSW has had any community cases.

Coronavirus restrictions that had been in place since the northern beaches outbreak in Sydney over Christmas were lifted just two days ago.

That meant from Monday, NSW residents were no longer required to wear masks on public transport, among other rule relaxations.

Those less stringent rules will continue to be in place for the rest of the state.