Sydney New Year’s Eve: changes to rules for Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast, and Blue Mountains
Major changes have been announced on what residents across Sydney can do to see in the new year.
Sydney residents can now only have five visitors in their homes and only 30 people together outdoors on New Year’s Eve, the NSW Premier announced.
Gladys Berejiklian announced major changes to what New Year’s Eve will look like for Sydneysiders in a press conference on Wednesday following the discovery of a new and concerning virus cluster.
The new outbreak currently stands at six and involves a family in Croydon.
“The health experts are working overtime with all extended family members who are involved to make sure that that cluster, all contact details and venues and movements of that family are made apparent so we can identify all the close contacts,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“In view of this, we have decided to make some further decisions regarding New Year’s Eve.
“If you’re going to welcome people into your home, no more than five in Greater Sydney and, please, make sure even then that you exhibit good COVID-safe practises.
“We don’t want New Year’s Eve to be the cause of a superspreader. We don’t want New Year’s Eve to be a situation where undetected cases — people who may be in the early stages of the disease and not know they had it, not know they’re infectious — unintentionally give it to those closest to them.”
Before New Year’s Eve, Greater Sydney residents could have 10 people inside the home.
The outdoor gathering limit has also been reduced from New Year’s Eve, from 50 to 30 people allowed at a gathering.
The two rule changes apply to Greater Sydney, including Wollongong, the Central Coast, and the Nepean Blue Mountains.
The rule also applies to the southern half of the northern beaches, below the Narrabeen Bridge.
Restrictions for the northern zone of the Northern Beaches remain the same.
It was announced on Monday that residents from the north zone of the northern beaches could have five people at their homes, only for New Year’s Eve, but only if they were also people from the same zone.
They can also gather outdoors in numbers of five with people from the same zone.
The more limited restrictions in regional NSW also remain unchanged.
Ms Berejiklian said the government was asking Greater Sydney residents to stay home for New Year’s Eve.
“But if you must have people over, don’t have more than five and please make sure you have adequate social distancing, good ventilation, all those things,” she said.
“It’s always best to sit outside rather than inside and we appreciate the weather is not the best, but those arrangements are much safer.”
Both rule changes come into effect from 12.01am on New Year’s Eve.
Ms Berejiklian said the restrictions would remain in place “until further notice”.
She has previously said there should be no kissing or hugging when the clock strikes 12.
Hospitality venues remain open but must adhere to the one person per four metres squared rule.
A short, seven minute fireworks display will continue at midnight but residents are asked to watch the display on TV.
People will not be allowed into designated zones around Circular Quay, north Sydney and the city — usually the busiest sections of Sydney for New Year’s Eve — unless they have a designated pass.
Passes can be applied for through Service NSW.
There will be an update on restrictions for the northern beaches specifically on January 2.
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