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COVID-19 restrictions in Greater Sydney NSW – What you can and can’t do

Rules and restrictions that are more relevant to the Over 60s

Rules and restrictions that apply to the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains), the Central Coast and Wollongong to protect the community from COVID-19.

Last updated as at 5pm, Monday 4 January 2021 based on the NSW Government COVID-19 website.

 

Face Masks

General rules about when you need to wear a mask

A face mask (fitted face covering) is mandatory in the following indoor settings:

  • shopping (retail, supermarkets and shopping centres)
  • public and community transport
  • indoor entertainment (including cinemas and theatres)
  • places of public worship
  • hair and beauty premises
  • tattoo parlours
  • massage parlours
  • betting agencies
  • gaming areas in licensed premises
  • visiting residential aged care facilities

Face masks are also mandatory for all staff in

  • hospitality venues (for staff who have a customer-facing role)
  • gaming areas in licensed premises (including casinos)

Under the public health order, a “fitted face covering” means a mask or other covering that

  • fits securely around the face, and
  • is designed or made to be worn over the nose and mouth to provide the wearer with protection against infection

You may be fined $200 on the spot for not wearing a face mask.

There are also penalties for hospitality venue operators who fail to ensure their staff wear masks as required. The fines are $1000 for an individual and $5000 for a corporate operator.

Children aged 12 and under, are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable.

 

List of premises where you must wear a mask:

People who enter or work in the following premises will be required to wear a mask:

  • retail premises or business premises that provide goods or services to members of the public who attend the premises, including
    • supermarkets
    • shopping centres, but not a recreation facility (indoor) in a shopping centre
    • bank branches
    • post offices
    • Service NSW centres
    • hairdressing salons
    • nail salons
    • beauty salons
    • tanning salons
    • waxing salons
    • spas
    • tattoo parlours
    • massage parlours
    • betting agencies
    • gaming lounges
  • entertainment facilities
  • gaming areas in licensed premises (including casinos)
    premises, including places of public worship, being used for public worship or religious services
    residential aged care facilities (rule applies to visitors, not residents).
  • Health services: premises that are used for the purpose of providing health services are not retail premises or business premises.

 

Public transport and public transport waiting areas

You must wear a mask on public transport or when you are in a vehicle or vessel being used to provide a public transport service, including a taxi or a rideshare service.

You must also wear a mask when you are at a public transport waiting area which includes:

  • the station area and platform of a passenger railway or light rail station
  • a ferry wharf
  • a bus stop or light rail stop, including any area where persons queue or gather when waiting at the stop
  • a taxi rank, including any area where persons queue or gather when waiting at a taxi rank

You may be fined $200 on the spot for not wearing a face mask.

Children aged 12 and under are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable.

 

 

Religious services and funerals

Funerals, memorial services and wakes

A maximum of 100 people may attend a funeral or memorial service (or a gathering after the service) subject to the

  • one person per 4 square metres in indoor areas
  • one person per 2 square metres rule in outdoor areas

Places of public worship, funeral homes and crematoria must be registered as a COVID Safe business.

People attending the service will be required to supply their name and contact details so that they can be used for contact tracing.

It is mandatory to wear a face mask in certain indoor settings such as public places of worship.

Read common questions about attending funerals, memorial services and wakes.

 

Religious gatherings and places of worship

  • Places of public worship may have a maximum of 100 people, subject to the one person per 4 square metre rule.
  • Where a place of public worship has more than one separate area, each area may have a maximum of 100 people, subject to the one person per 4 square metre rule.
  • A religious service in an indoor area other than a place of public worship may also have a maximum of 100 people, subject to the one person per 4 square metre rule.
  • An outdoor religious service is subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule.
  • The venue must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and be registered as a COVID Safe venue to keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.

Develop a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your church, meeting house, mosque, synagogue, temple or another place of worship to help your community connect safely.

For religious services held at a location other than a place of public worship, the principal organiser is responsible for developing and complying with a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Services can also be streamed or recorded to enable people to engage in worship.

See the advice for services involving music and singing.

People attending a religious service will be required to provide their name and contact details when they enter so that they can be used for contact tracing.

It is mandatory to wear a face mask in certain indoor settings such as public places of worship.

 

 

Fitness, sport and recreation

Gym and fitness classes

Gyms must be registered as COVID Safe and have a COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal present when there are more than 25 people using the gym at the same time.

The gym COVID Safety Plan applies to any gym that is an indoor recreation facility open to members of the public. This includes gyms that are in a hotel or workplace.

Indoor gyms are subject to the one person per 4 square metres rule.

A maximum of 30 people per class applies to gym and recreation classes such as yoga, tai chi and pilates.

If a gym is not open to members of the public – such as a gym in residential premises, a home or an apartment building or an Over 50s lifestyle community village – these requirements do not apply.

A gym does not include a studio for dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics or martial arts.

See the COVID-19 Safety Plans that apply to

 

Boating

Under public health orders, the ‘occupier of premises’ includes the operator of a vehicle or vessel.

For boat owners, this means the number of people you can have on your boat is restricted as follows.

On your vessel, you can have 25 people or one person per 2 square metres whichever is the greater.

As at 5-January 2021, people who live outside the Northern Beaches cannot enter Pittwater by boat unless they have an essential reason.

Operators of commercial vessels must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

 

 

Travel and holidays

Travel within NSW

Stay at home directions and travel restrictions are in place for Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Other than the Northern Beaches, there are no restrictions around travelling to or from regional or rural NSW, or other areas of NSW.

However, NSW Health currently recommends delaying non-essential travel within NSW, especially between Greater Sydney and regional areas.

For more information on rules and restrictions:

 

Holiday homes and holiday rentals

Stay at home directions and visitor restrictions are in place for Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

For a holiday home or short term rental

  • the square metres rule does not apply
  • up to 10 people may stay in a holiday home or holiday rental

However, for premises that had already been rented out to more than 10 people before Monday 21 December, the people can continue to stay there.

If you are visiting a national park camping ground you must book ahead.

For more information on rules and restrictions:

 

Interstate travel

If you are planning to visit other Australian states and territories, check local arrangements prior to your trip. Some states and territories may require travellers to quarantine on arrival.

 

 

Exemptions from wearing a mask

The public health order includes a number of excuses for not wearing or removing a mask under certain circumstances.

You are not required to wear a mask if you

  • are a child aged 12 or under
  • have a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, that makes wearing a mask unsuitable (for example, a skin condition, an intellectual disability, autism or trauma).

You may remove your mask when you are

  • eating or drinking
  • communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing
  • at work and the nature of your work; a) makes wearing a face mask a risk to your or another person’s health and safety….. b) means clear enunciation or visibility of your mouth is essential
  • asked to remove your mask for identity purposes.

You may also remove your mask

  • because of an emergency
  • for the proper provision of goods or services, for example, if you are having a facial or beard trim.

 

 

Areas affected

The restrictions apply to all of the suburbs covered by these Local Government Areas in Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong area.

Visit the Office of Local Government website to find the local council for your suburb.

 

Map of Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong

 

 

Contacts and enquiries

  • Call Service NSW 24 hours, 7 days a week on 13 77 88
  • Call 1800 020 080 (24/7) for health questions or to check symptoms.
  • Call the Coronavirus Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787

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