NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced NSW would once again be tightening COVID-19 restrictions for 'higher risk' activities from this Friday.
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From 12.01am on Friday July 24 the following rules will be in force as NSW enters what the state Government is calling a state of 'COVID normal':
- Compliance measures introduced to pubs will be extended to restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs.
This includes:
- limiting group bookings to a maximum of 10 people;
- mandatory COVID-Safe plans and registration as a COVID-Safe business;
- a digital record must be created within 24 hours.
- Weddings and corporate events will be limited to 150 people subject to the four square metre rule and registration as a COVID-Safe business. Strict COVID-Safe plans must be in place and high-risk activities including choirs and dancing must not occur.
- Funerals and places of worship will be limited to 100 people, subject to the one person per four square metre rule and a COVID-Safe business registration.
The rules on gatherings remain the same: 20 guests inside the home and 20 for gatherings in a public place.
However, as the home is a high transmission area, the NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant strongly recommends a COVID-Safe precautionary approach of limiting visitors to the home to 10 people as a general principle.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this tightening was to reduce the risk of uncontrollable break-outs and ensure NSW stays open for business.
"Unfortunately we must live with COVID-19 and the way it has changed our lives," Ms Berejiklian said.
"These rules will give businesses and the community a degree of certainty into the foreseeable future, and help NSW avoid uncontrolled virus spread."
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the changes are based on advice received from NSW CMO Dr Chant.
"We do not want to see community transmission getting to a stage where it is out of control," Mr Hazzard said.
"These restrictions target large gatherings which are high risk settings for transmission of the virus.
"We need people to do the right thing: follow the rules; stay home if unwell and get tested, even with the most minimal of symptoms; always maintain physical distancing when out and about; and ensure good hand hygiene."
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said with a heightened risk of COVID-19 outbreaks, the people of NSW need to be on high alert.
"This is the time to be vigilant - we need people to come forward and be tested even if they have the mildest of symptoms, we need businesses to follow and enforce their COVID-Safe plans and we need people to follow the rules," Dr Chant said.
As of Tuesday morning there were 13 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in NSW with several areas around Sydney considered hot spots.
Rebecca Hewson
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
