Restrictions in place for Greater Sydney as 13 new COVID-19 cases reported

To control the recent coronavirus outbreak and combat the further spread of COVID-19 across NSW, premier Gladys Berejiklian has increased restrictions across the Greater Sydney area as the Bondi cluster continues to grow.

New restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour from 4pm today for one week.

Berejiklian said we are once again asking the community to do what they do best and follow the health advice to get on top of this outbreak.

“We don’t take these steps lightly and we never want to impose restrictions unless we absolutely have to,” Berejiklian said.

“We know the effect this will have on residents and venues but we must take this action now to ensure we keep on top of this outbreak.”

New restrictions for Greater Sydney

• Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events
• Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children∙
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed
• Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed
• Dancing will not be allowed 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 limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn)

Restrictions: 4 square metre rule is back

The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;

• Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity;
• Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced

Residents in Sydney local government areas cannot travel outside the metro

If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel. Berejiklian said these restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of further community transmission.

“Importantly, if you live or work in the seven LGAs you cannot travel outside Sydney unless you are visiting a relative in care or have to go to work – so unless it is essential travel, you should not be going outside metropolitan city for the next week,” Berejiklian said.

“We apologise in advance that this may impact some people’s ability to travel during the school holidays but these measures mean you have to go further at this stage.

“We’re not going restrict people’s movement or what they do but we will restrict if you live or work in the seven LGAs, don’t go beyond metropolitan Sydney unless utterly essential.”

CHO calls for more people to get tested

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged the community to play their part in controlling the COVID spread by coming forward and getting tested if they have t eh slightest of symptoms.

“We need really high testing rates to make sure we’re stopping any chains of transmission and we’re continuing to urge people to come forward for testing, especially if you were in Westfield Bondi Junction (including the car park) at any time between 12 June and 18 June,” Dr Chant said.

Use your QR codes

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said more than ever people need to use QR codes and wear masks when required.

“We will be increasing supervision and compliance checks to make sure everyone is doing the right thing,” Hazzard said.

“This pandemic is far from over and we all have to do our bit to protect the community.”

Premier won’t rule out lockdown

The premier has said she hopes increased restrictions combined with increased testing will turn the tide on the latest outbreak but would not rule out the possibility of a lockdown.

“We have always said we will not burden our citizens unless we absolutely have to do. We know basically where the super spreading events have been, we know where the virus is circulating, and we don’t want to take any further action than what we have now. But this relies on all of us reining in our behaviour, all of us following the health orders that are coming into place from 4:00pm.

“I am not ruling out any further action, but I am also confident that if we adhere to the health orders today, we will have a good chance of getting on top of this outbreak.

“But that is what it means, responding to a pandemic means you look at the facts, you look at the response, you look at where spread is or isn’t, occurring and you act accordingly.

“We have had the response in New South Wales not to burn our citizens unless we absolutely have to do. We have listened to the health advice, we have listened to what has occurred and what is occurring and based on that advice is what we are announcing today.

“If we need to take further action within the week or after the week, we are open to that. But we just don’t know yet because the situation is evolving.”

Don’t leave home unless necessary

The premier said while the state has not enacted stay at home orders, the message for residents of Sydney is not to travel outside the metro region unless absolutely necessary. In fact, Berjikilian would be pleased if people limited their movements for the next week and most of all used common sense.

“I think people get the general message when we say, if you live or work within those LGAs, we don’t want you travelling outside of Sydney. If you happen to come outside of the city into those LGAs, we recommend you don’t in the next week. This comes down to health orders but also exercising common sense.

“Having said that we are not limiting people’s behaviour within metropolitan Sydney. The risks are there, we’re not saying you can’t leave the home for any reasons but if you happen to live or work in those seven LGAs, we don’t want you moving outside of Sydney.

“We don’t want spreading to our regions. We don’t want spreading to holiday destinations within New South Wales and I think the vast majority of the public understand that.”