Map explains the difference between Metro Sydney, Greater Sydney Covid-19 rules

As restrictions pile up for Sydneysiders in the wake of the Delta strain outbreak, a map shows which rules you have to abide by depending on where you live.

In the days since Sydney’s most recent Covid-19 outbreak emerged, residents in the NSW capital have heard the terms “Greater Sydney” and “Metropolitan Sydney” being thrown around a lot by officials in relation to new rules and travel limits.

While most restrictions announced earlier this week – including mandatory mask-wearing, restrictions on home visitors, and the return of the 4sq m rule – applied to Greater Sydney, Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s announcement today that four Sydney council areas will enter a seven-day lockdown at midnight has changed that situation entirely.

From 11.59pm tonight, people who live in the Woollahra, Waverley, City of Sydney and Randwick local government areas – or who have worked in any of those areas in the last two weeks – must now stay at home for the next seven days, and may only leave home for an essential reason.

Existing restrictions announced earlier this week applying to seven local government areas – Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West and Bayside – have been extended until 12.01am on Saturday, July 3.

Ms Berejiklian said she believed the new restrictions were a “proportionate response to the risk”.

“We’ve done better than expected in terms of contact tracing and getting on top of all those links, but what this does is make sure that we haven’t missed any chains of community transmission,” she told reporters.

Understandably, it all makes things a bit confusing. Depending on where you live and work, here are the restrictions you’re now expected to abide by.

RELATED: NSW records 22 new Covid-19 cases

The boundaries of metropolitan Sydney. Picture: NSW Government

What is the difference between Greater and Metro Sydney?

Greater Sydney (seen in the below map) encompasses the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas as well as Metropolitan Sydney.

Metropolitan Sydney (seen in the above map) is what most people likely think of Sydney as – shaving off the Blue Mountains, Wollondilly, Shellharbour, Central Coast, Wollongong and Hawkesbury regions.

What are the rules for Metro Sydney?

If you live in the Woollahra, Waverley, City of Sydney or Randwick LGAs, or have worked there in the past two weeks, you must now stay at home for the next seven days and may only leave for one of the following reasons:

• 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, if you cannot work or study from home

On top of this, if you live in the Woollahra, Waverley, City of Sydney or RandwickLGAs or Canada Bay, the Inner West orBayside, you must abide by the following restrictions until midnight on July 2:

• If you live or work in one of the seven mentioned LGAs, you cannot travel outside Metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.
• Visitors to households, including children, are limited to five guests.
• Masks are compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces and at organised outdoor events.
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues is not permitted.
• Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship is not permitted.
• Dancing is not permitted at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs, however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people).
• Dance and gym classes are limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn).
• The one person per 4sq m rule applies in all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals.
• Outdoor seated events are limited to 50 per cent seated capacity.
• Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, have been reintroduced.

RELATED: Businesses to close first in lockdown

The boundaries of Greater Sydney. Picture: NSW Government

What are the rules for Greater Sydney?

If you live or work in an LGA of Sydney that is not one of the seven listed, or the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong orShellharbour,you must abide by the restrictions mentioned above, though you are permitted to travel beyond Metro Sydney.

“Residents across Greater Sydney should also limit unnecessary activity and avoid large gatherings in coming days and comply with the current restrictions,” a statement from the Premier said.