Everything You Need To Know About NSW’s New Covid-19 Restrictions
There have been 30 new local cases identified since Friday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today announced a series of tighter restrictions across Sydney, the Greater Sydney area and greater NSW in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The cluster that led to the lockdown began in the Northern Beaches. Beginning with two cases, that number became 17 within the space of a single day and continued to rise. This morning, Premier Berejiklian announced that the cluster had become 30 new local cases.
I know Australians will be feeling exhausted with another coronavirus outbreak, and so close to Christmas. This has been the year from hell and it still has a few gut punches to give. No matter what happens next, we have to stick together and keep listening to the health advice.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 17, 2020
“We do have the potential to get on top of [the outbreak],” Berejiklian said, as reported by The Guardian. “But it does require hard work on the behalf of all of us.”
As the cases in NSW continued to rise, states around Australia began to impose restrictions on incoming travellers from the Northern Beaches, throwing the Christmas plans of thousands of families into chaos.
NSW recorded 30 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Six cases were reported in overseas travellers. This brings the total number of cases in NSW since the start of the pandemic to 4,559. pic.twitter.com/wHkwBXgAz7
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 20, 2020
Most states are considering travellers from the Northern Beaches, in particular, to be coming from a “hot spot”, with those travelling from other parts of NSW not restricted.
Guests In Homes – From today, people have been told not to have more than 10 people in their homes, in addition to whoever lives there.
Venues – All indoor hospitality venues, places of worship, will be placed back on the four square metre rule. Venues will be capped at a maximum of 300 patrons.
Singing And Dancing – Dancing is banned, apart from 20 people at a wedding. Singing and chanting are banned, except for places of worship where up to five people can sing or chant.
NSW COVID update: 30 new cases, including 28 linked to Avalon cluster – 2 still TBA
Berejiklian: "we have not seen evidence of massive seeding outside the northern beaches" pic.twitter.com/mHMM3xkR6q
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) December 20, 2020
NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard is advising everyone in greater Sydney to wear a mask when out. Mask wearing is not mandatory in NSW, but both the health minister and premiere reiterate it is essential for people to wear masks, especially on public transport.
Australians should get tested even for the mildest of symptoms and follow NSW Health for real-time updates. The Premiere will provide a further update after Wednesday.
For more updates, continue to check back on Junkee.