What are the new restrictions for Greater Sydney?

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has introduced several new restrictions for the state after a surge of unlinked COVID-19 cases in the community.

With current vaccination levels “we will see thousands and thousands of hospitalisations and death” if the virus is allowed to circulate, Ms Berejiklian said on Friday.

On Saturday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard amended the Public Health Order to include additional requirements on mask wearing and restrictions on entering Greater Sydney in addition to measures announced by the Premier on Friday.

Saturday’s new restrictions affect those in Greater Sydney and regional NSW:

• From Tuesday, July 13, those in Greater Sydney will be required to wear a mask in all indoor common property areas of residential premises. Those who live in apartment blocks will be required to wear a mask when travelling in a lift or through the lobby of their residence.
• Masks are now required in all indoor areas of construction sites throughout NSW.
• A person is now only able to enter Greater Sydney for the purpose of obtaining goods or services if those goods or services are not reasonably available outside of Greater Sydney.
• A person can no longer enter Greater Sydney for the purpose of exercise or outdoor recreation.
• From Sunday July 11, individuals will only be able to enter Greater Sydney for a funeral, memorial service or gathering afterwards if there are no more than 10 persons in attendance (including the person conducting the service).
• Those leaving Greater Sydney must carry evidence showing their address and provide it to police when requested.

Friday’s new restrictions apply to residents across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

From 5pm on Friday, the following restrictions were introduced:

• Outdoor public gatherings will be limited to two people.
• People must stay within their local government area for exercise or go no further than 10 kilometres from their place of residence or temporary accommodation, if the place is within another local government area.
• No car pooling between non-household members.
• People aged 18 or older must carry evidence showing their home address and produce it if requested by a police officer. On Saturday, it was clarified this did not need to be government-issued ID and police “would not be expecting” everyone to carry identification while exercising.
• Only one person per household, per day, may leave the home for shopping.
• Browsing in shops is not allowed, only for essentials.
• Funerals will be limited to 10 people in total, though this will come into effect from Sunday, July 11.
• Travel to funerals outside Greater Sydney will be permitted only if the person is the spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or sibling of the dead person.
• As well as the existing rules requiring face masks to be worn in indoors (excluding your home), people must now also wear a mask while in communal indoor areas in a residential unit or apartment complex.
• The exemption on face masks at construction sites has been lifted.

The four reasons to leave your home remain in place.

These include:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only, and they can take dependent children with them).
• Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons).
• Exercise with no more than two people (unless members of the same household).
• Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

It is not known how long these new restrictions will be in place for.

Sydney’s extended lockdown is scheduled to end at midnight on Friday, July 16. However, Ms Berejiklian flagged that, based on current numbers, it may continue beyond then.

NSW is facing “the biggest challenge we have faced since the pandemic started”, she said, and “unless there is a dramatic change, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the numbers, I can’t see how we would be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday”.

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