Premier’s ‘no browsing’ reminder to Sydneysiders amid new rule

If you have been shopping with friends or family members, you won’t be allowed to anymore following a tough new rule to be enforced at 5pm.

If you have been doing your grocery shop with more than one other person, you won’t be allowed to anymore following the NSW Premier’s tough new rule.

During Friday’s press conference, Gladys Berejiklian announced that only one person is allowed to leave their home when shopping at supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.

“Browsing is not allowed,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Whether you are in a supermarket or anywhere else buying essential items, you have to think about before you leave the home, can I get it online? Do I need to leave the house to go shopping?”

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has capped supermarket visits to one person per household. Picture: NCA NewsWire/James Gourley

It comes after the state recorded another 44 cases of community transmission on Friday, the highest daily increase since the latest outbreak began after yesterday’s record of 38 — and the Premier said restrictions would continue until cases of the Delta variant “get to zero or close zero”.

She explained that unless under “exceptional circumstances” or health reasons, one person from the household should go out shopping to buy essential items only.

“Browsing, killing time, is not a good enough reason to leave your house,” she reminded the millions of Aussies currently in lockdown.

“Getting an essential item, a baby product, getting bedding or heating, if you can, do it online. “Do it virtually. There is no doubt that, that is our preference.”

Ms Berejiklian said the “basic message” is not to leave your house unless you really need to.

“But we also have to appreciate that we don’t want to cause unnecessary anguish and hurt and suffering to people already doing it tough,” she added. “But we can’t be stronger than saying, don’t leave the house unless you absolutely have to.

“That is why we do have to have a presence of compliance.”

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The new rule will take effect from 5pm on Friday, July 9. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

The new rule will come into effect at 5pm on Friday, along with several other tougher restrictions including a cap at funerals and how many can exercise outdoors.

Funerals will now be reduced to 10 people with the Premier describing it as a “heartbreaking decision”.

“I apologise in advance to all those families going through such a difficult time but unfortunately, we have no option,” she said.

Outdoor exercise has been reduced from 10 people to two people, and only within 10km of home.