Covid NSW: Sydney's extended lockdown – new rules explained
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced NSW will be in lockdown for a further four weeks until August 28, and has introduced a "singles bubble" arrangement and the return of "non occupied construction" in some areas.
The number of areas of concern in Sydney have been extended, placing restrictions on workers in eight Local Government Areas (LGAs).
HSC students will be able to resume face-to-face learning next month under special conditions.
Changes made to the extended lockdown:
No shopping outside of your Local Government Area or 10km radius
From midnight tonight, the three LGAs of Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown will join the five existing LGAs of concern and only critical workers can leave to go to work
Only healthcare and aged care workers must get tested every three days in the Fairfield and Cumberland LGAs
All authorised workers from Canterbury-Bankstown must continue to get tested every three days
Non-occupied construction will resume outside of the eight LGAs of concern
Contactless tradies allowed to commence jobs, if they are outside the eight LGAs of concern
Face-to-face learning will resume on August 16 for Year 12 school students
Vaccinations for Year 12 students inside the eight LGAs of concern will be rolled out
Introduction of a singles bubble: If you live by yourself, can nominate one person who can visit you
The eight LGAs of concern:
Canterbury-Bankstown
Fairfield
Cumberland
Liverpool
Parramatta
Campbelltown
George's River
Blacktown
NSW Year 12 students allowed to return to school
Ms Berejiklian announced that year 12 students will be allowed to return to face-to-face learning on August 16, with the rest of the students continuing to learn at home.
She also announced a vaccination program will be rolled out for year 12 students in the eight affected LGA's, with the premier reminding people that the first vaccine dose takes about two weeks to "kick in".
NSW Health will also introduce rapid antigen testing at schools to monitor the returning students.
Sydney's 'singles bubble' explained
The state government announced the introduction of a singles bubble, explaining that people living by themselves are allowed to nominate one person they are permitted to meet with indoors.
"You are allowed to nominate one person that's allowed to visit you, but it has to be the same person," Ms Berejiklian explained.
"It can be a family member, a member of another household, but it has to be one person and it has to be outside of those eight government areas."
Those who live within one of the eight LGAs of concern have to nominate someone from within their LGA or their 10km radius.
Construction returns in NSW, with rules
Outside the eight LGAs in southwest and western Sydney, construction jobs can resume provided there is a Covidsafe plan on site.
"Construction in non-occupied settings outside of the LGAs of concern (with no residents on-site) will re-open as planned, subject to a one person per four square metre rule," NSW Health said in a statement.
Trades people, including cleaners who are able to work with zero contact with residents will also be allowed to resume. However that is subject to a limit of no more than two people inside and five people outside.
Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged
Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro said restrictions in regional NSW will remain unchanged for the coming weeks.
“The lockdown in Greater Sydney and every measure and precaution we implement is not only for the residents of Sydney but to protect regional NSW and to prevent the virus reaching our regional communities,” he said.
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