Restrictions Eased for LGAs of Concern and New Regional Areas in Lockdown

Further to our previous email, the following updates were announced in relation to lockdowns in regional NSW.
 
1.         Some restrictions eased for the LGAs of concern
 
a)         From 12:01am on Monday, 20 September 2021, some restrictions in the following LGAs of concern are eased:

• Bayside;

• Blacktown;

• Burwood;

• Campbelltown;

• Canterbury-Bankstown;

• Cumberland;

• Fairfield;

• Georges River

• Liverpool;

• Parramatta;

• Strathfield; and

• Penrith for the following suburbs: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.

 
b)         The eased restrictions are as follows:

• No limit on the duration of outdoor exercise and recreation (previously a two-hour limit);

• Outdoor gatherings of up to five fully vaccinated people (not including children aged 12 and under) will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home (previously only fully vaccinated household members could gather outdoors, or up to two fully vaccinated people from different households);

• Shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation can be done 5km from home or within your LGA (previously only 5km from home);

• Attend a small wedding (maximum 11 people) in Greater Sydney as a guest (previously only allowed in their LGA); and

• A person’s single’s bubble buddy can live in Greater Sydney (previously must have resided within 5km of a person’s home). A person from a LGA of concern can also now be a buddy for someone in Greater Sydney.

 
c)         Nearly all restrictions in the LGAs of concern are now aligned with other lockdown areas, with the main differences being authorised worker conditions and travel permit requirements which remain in place in the LGAs of concern.
 
2.         Hilltops, Cowra and Glen Innes LGAs now under the stay-at-home restriction
 
Due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk, the stay-at-home restriction is re-introduced for:

• the Hilltops and Glen Innes LGAs from 6pm on Friday, 17 September 2021 for seven days and the restriction will apply to anyone who has been in the Hilltops LGA including Young and surrounding areas since 3 September, and the Glen Innes LGA since 13 September.

• the Cowra LGA from 5 pm on Monday 20 September 2021 for 7 days and the restriction will apply to anyone who has been in the Cowra LGA from 13 September 2021.

 
3.         Summary of the stay-at-home restriction.
 
a)         Everyone in the Cowra, Hilltops LGA and Glen Innes LGA must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason. The reasons you may leave your home include:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;

• Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);

• If you are fully vaccinated, you can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation so long as all those at the gathering aged 16 years or over are fully vaccinated. 

• Work, or tertiary education, where you cannot work or study from home;

• To attend a wedding or a funeral. A maximum of 11 people can attend a wedding service. This means a maximum of five guests, the two people being married, the two witnesses, the celebrant or officiant, and one person recording the service. A maximum of 10 people can attend a funeral.

 
b)         Those aged 16 or older who are fully vaccinated can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation.
 
c)         Residents must wear a face mask in all indoor or outdoor areas, other than a place of residence. This includes when you are on a street, in a park, at the shops or at work. There are limited exceptions, such as where you are in a vehicle with members of your household or your nominated visitor ('singles bubble'), when exercising, when eating or drinking, and in emergencies.
 
d)         Members’ retail business (for e.g., vehicle sales) in these LGAs are only permitted if:

• a “click and collect” service, where a person buys, returns or exchanges goods by telephone or online and then attends the retail premises to collect, exchange or return the goods, or

• delivering goods to a person’s place of residence or other premises after the person has bought the goods by telephone or online”

 
 
If a Member has any question or query then please contact the MTA NSW Employment Relations at P: (02) 90169000 or at E: eradvice@mtansw.com.au