Lockdown Rules; What You Need to Know

Due to the current outbreak of the Delta Strain of Covid-19, a series of Lockdown orders have been made across NSW. The harshest of the lockdown rules apply in Greater Sydney, and in certain Local Government areas. This article will explain the rules which apply to each area.

REGIONAL NSW

Anywhere beyond Greater Sydney (defined below) is considered Regional NSW for the purpose of the Lockdown orders. In these areas, you must abide by the following rules;

Face Masks:

Must be worn when in any enclosed or indoor space, including on public transport, carpooling with people from a different household, airporta and on Domestic flights, any shop or indoor facility. You are also required to wear a mask in certain outdoor settings, especially where you cannot comply with social distancing requirements.

** There are exemptions to this rule, although you must carry and provide proof of such if required to do so by Police.

Visitors to your House

There is no limit of visitors to your house per day, so long as there is no more than 5 visitors at one time.

This does not include medical staff providing medical care or staff, individuals providing care to children or viewing or inspecting a property for lease or sale.

Capacity Rules

A venue may have 25 people or one person per 4m2 at any premises.

Gyms, Yoga and Dance classes can have up to 20 people in a class or activity. Masks must be worn during the class.

Singing by members of the public or audience is not allowed.

Dancing is not allowed at any hospitality venue or nightclub. At weddings, dancing is allowed for the bridal party, as long as it is not more than 20 people.

Funerals are allowed where the 1 person per 4 m2 rule is complied with. This also applies to Religious Services, Cinemas, Theatres and Concert Halls, and Sports Stadiums.

GREATER SYDNEY

This includes any individuals who work in, live in or attend University or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour Local government areas.

The “Stay At Home” Order means you must stay home, unless you have a reasonable excuse to leave. There are 4 main ‘reasonable excuses’:

  1. To go to work or be educated, that cannot occur from home,
  2. To get medical attention (including regular doctors appointments, Covid tests and Covid vaccinations),
  3. To provide care to others, and on compassionate grounds, and
  4. To purchase essential goods and services

In relation to purchasing essential goods and services, you should try to stay within 10km of your home and only one person from each household can obtain food or other goods per day.

The following activities are also reasonable excuses to leave the house;

  • Exercise and outdoor recreation activities in Greater Sydney area [note the limit of 10 people, and social distancing requirements]
  • Access childcare
  • Donate blood
  • Continue existing arrangements between parents and guardians of children
  • Attend a funeral
  • Undertake legal obligations
  • To provide pastoral care
  • For compassionate grounds, i.e. if you are in a relationship but do not live together

You can only meet up with one other person for exercise.

You cannot have individuals to your house, unless they are providing medical care or childcare, or are your Nominated Viistor.

Mask rules apply, and are extended any indoor common area of a communal residential building, including the lobby, lifts, mail room and garage/parking areas.

Nominated Visitor

Each person who lives alone is allowed to have one nominated visitor, who is another adult who does not live in the same household. Each individual living alone can only have one nominated visitor, who is not a nominated visitor for someone else. This person can attend your home, and socialise with you, so long as they are not doing the same with another person, and do not live within the restricted local government areas.

RESTRICTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

These are Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool or Parramatta Local Government Areas.

The following additional restrictions apply;

  • You must not go outside of a 5km radius of your home (even if it is a reasonable excuse for leaving the home)
  • You may only leave your LGA for the purposes of work if you are an authorised worker
  • You must wear a mask at all times once outside of your house or car, even if you are exercising outdoors.
  • You must carry proof of address at all times
  • You must carry proof of a Covid test if you are required to undertake mandatory screening testing

Mandatory Screening Testing

Workers within Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield must have a Covid-19 test every 72 hours (3 days) if they are allowed to work outside of their home, and their workplace is outside their LGA.

Aged care and health care workers who live in Cumberland LGA must also be tested every 72 hours if their work is outside the LGA.

Individuals subject to these testing rules do not have to isolate after their test, if they do not have any symptoms.

PENALTIES

The following penalties apply for breaching a public health order;

  • Fine up to $11 000 and/or 6 months imprisonment
  • A further fine of $5500 for each day the breach continues
  • On the spot fine of $4000 for failing to provide information to a Police Officer when requested
  • On the spot fine of $5000 for spitting or coughing in public
  • On the spot fine of $1000 in other cases
  • $200 fine for not wearing a mask.

If you have been given a penalty notice or Court Attendance Notice in relation to Public Health Order breaches, contact our office immediately!

*This information is correct as at 5 August 2021.