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Given the risk of COVID-19 transmission on the Northern Beaches and across Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains), the following adjustments are being made.
From midnight tonight, the southern zone of the Northern Beaches will be subject to the same restrictions as Greater Sydney.
Restrictions for the northern zone of the Northern Beaches remain the same with stay at home orders in place until 9 January 2021;

• No visitors to the home.
• Five northern zone residents can gather outdoors (not at homes) for exercise and recreation, from within the same zone.
• Non-essential businesses remain closed.

Given the general risk in Greater Sydney, new measures are required to reduce the transmission potential of COVID-19 while maintaining economic activity.
The following measures for Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) are effective from midnight tonight;

• Face masks will be mandatory in the following indoor settings: shopping (retail, supermarkets and shopping centres), public/shared transport, indoor entertainment (including cinemas and theatres), places of worship, hair and beauty premises. Face masks will also be mandatory for all staff in hospitality venues and casinos and for patrons using gaming services. Compliance will start from Monday, 4 January 2021 with $200 on the spot fines for individuals for non-compliance. Children under 12 are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable.
• Gym classes reduced to 30 people.
• Places of worship and religious services limited to 1 person per 4sqm up to a maximum of 100 people per separate area.
• Weddings and funerals limited to 1 person per 4sqm up to a maximum of 100 people.
• Outdoor performances and protests reduced to 500 people.
• Controlled, outdoor gatherings (seated, ticketed, enclosed) reduced to 2,000 people.
• Night clubs not permitted.

People are still encouraged to limit non-essential gatherings and reduce their mobility where possible to further minimise the risk of transmission in the community.
Whilst these measures do not apply to areas outside Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains), we urge all residents and visitors across the State to practise COVID safe behaviours and get tested even if symptoms are mild.
We thank the community for their patience and understanding.
Our priority is always to protect the health and safety of the community.

Given the current situation on the Northern Beaches and increasing concern about transmission of COVID-19 in other parts of Greater Sydney (which includes Wollongong) new restrictions will be in place on New Year’s Eve.
This decision has been made taking into account updated health advice from Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant.
For New Year’s Eve in Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) the following will apply;

• Household gatherings will be limited to 5 visitors (including children).
• The limit for outdoor gatherings will be reduced from 50 to 30.

Restrictions for the northern zone of the Northern Beaches remain the same but for the southern zone of the Northern Beaches the following will now apply;

• Household gatherings will be limited to 5 visitors from within your zone (including children).

These changes come into effect from midnight tonight (Wednesday 30 December) and will be in place until further notice.
People are encouraged to limit non-essential gatherings over the New Year period where possible to further minimise the risk of transmission in the community.
We thank the community for their patience.
Our priority is always to keep the community safe.
We are watching the emerging situation closely and will update the community accordingly should any further changes be required.

Hospitality businesses and hairdressers are being reminded to download and use the NSW Government’s Service NSW QR code for registrations, or risk serious penalties, with the new rules taking effect from 1 January, 2021.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the Government’s Service NSW QR code system is fast, free, accurate and private.
“The consequences of non-compliance and complacency when it comes to electronic record keeping are serious – it puts people’s health at risk and destroys jobs,” Mr Dominello said.
“The feedback we’ve received from contact tracers is that the Service NSW QR code is the most effective system in assisting NSW Health to protect the community.
“Our QR code also prevents the use of fake names as a customer’s personal details are automatically captured via the Service NSW app when they scan their smartphone over the QR code.
“We must be vigilant and cannot rest on our laurels. Businesses are already required to have electronic registrations and this move will strengthen our resilience further.
“Non-compliance is easy to detect and won’t be tolerated. Pursuant to the Public Health Orders you either have the Service NSW QR code or you don’t. There will be no ifs or buts. Penalties include $5,000 on-the-spot fines, followed by a week’s closure and month’s closure if problems continue.
“About 50,000 NSW Government QR codes are being used by businesses and more than 2 millioncustomers having scanned one of our QR codes, with 94 per cent giving it the thumbs up.”
Mr Dominello encouraged customers to download the Service NSW app prior to the new rules taking effect on 1 January, 2021.
“It only takes minutes to do and seconds for businesses to check, which helps keep people safe and the economy open,” Mr Dominello said.
Businesses are also required to ensure that they have sighted the customers’ green tick prior to entry to comply with the orders.
Personal information obtained by businesses will be held securely by the Government and only used by NSW Health in the event of an outbreak. It will be destroyed after 28 days.
Customers without a smartphone will be able to register at businesses via other digital devices, such as an electronic form on a tablet.
The Government will consider expanding the mandate to other industries later in the new year and will keep the community informed.

The NSW Government has today outlined arrangements for a COVID-Safe New Year’s Eve fireworks and updated its advice on COVID-Safe restrictions for the Northern Beaches and Greater Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today’s decision was necessary based on the latest health advice and the evolving Northern Beaches cluster.
“My strong message to everyone in Greater Sydney this year is to watch the fireworks on TV,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are also asking for a little more time from residents to help us stamp out this outbreak, especially if they live on the Northern Beaches.”
The following arrangements will be introduced from midnight tonight (Monday, December 28):

For New Year’s Eve Celebrations:

• The CBD frontline worker fireworks vantage point offering is cancelled. Frontline workers will be offered another opportunity in 2021.
• Hospitality venues will remain open but must adhere to the one person per four square metres rule.
• Council events may continue but they must be controlled and seated with no mingling, and record keeping requirements must be strictly adhered to.
• A short, seven minute fireworks display will continue at midnight.

Unless you have a New Year’s Eve Pass through Service NSW, you will not be able to enter designated zones around Circular Quay, North Sydney and the City.

For the Northern Beaches peninsula zone (North of Narrabeen Bridge, and east of the Baha’i Temple), the following rules apply until January 9:

• The health situation remains volatile and the current restrictions will remain in place to supress community transmission.
• However, indoor and outdoor gatherings will be allowed for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will be restricted to five visitors in total from within your zone (and includes at homes).
• Current arrangements allowing five people to gather outdoors (not at homes) for exercise and recreation, from within the same zone, continues.
• No restaurants, cafes, pubs or clubs (except for takeaway) will be permitted to open, including for New Year’s Eve.

 

For the remainder (southern zone) of the Northern Beaches, the following rules apply until January 2:

• The health situation remains volatile and the current restrictions will remain in place to supress community transmission.
• However, indoor and outdoor gatherings will be allowed for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will be restricted to 10 visitors in total from within your zone (and includes at homes).
• Current arrangements allowing 10 people to gather outdoors (not at homes) for exercise and recreation, from within the same zone, continues.
• No restaurants, cafes, pubs or clubs (except for takeaway) will be permitted to open, including for New Year’s Eve.

 

For Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong the following rules apply:

• Gatherings in the home remain at 10 visitors in total (including children).
• Outside gatherings (such as picnics) will be restricted to 50 people in total (down from 100).

For regional NSW there is no change to current arrangements.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the efforts of residents, particularly those in the Northern Beaches, are paying off.
“This hasn’t been an easy Christmas period, but our contact tracers have been able to get on top of this outbreak and the number of new cases remains low,” Mr Hazzard said.
People with confirmed bookings in the CBD for the NYE fireworks should contact their respective restaurants and bars for further information now that venues will need to adhere to the one person per four square metre rule.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government recognised that many businesses around Circular Quay relied on NYE customers as one of the biggest nights of the year.
“New Year’s Eve is the chance for Sydney and NSW to shine on the world stage. Despite being a smaller celebration to normal, this New Year’s demonstrates NSW will bring in 2021 with confidence,” said Mr Ayres.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health has worked hard to make COVID-Safe celebrations possible but it is important that the community continues to follow COVID-Safe practices, stay at home if unwell and get tested, wear a mask and follow good hand hygiene and physical distancing.
“Everyone needs to continue to be alert to the ongoing risk of transmission and to keep practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and most importantly to get tested and isolate if they feel unwell,” Dr Chant said.
More information in relation to New Year’s Eve will be available later today on www.nsw.gov.au

Police have issued a total of 21 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) over a wedding reception that breached a Public Health Order in Sydney at the weekend after nine further PINs were issued overnight.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were called to a venue on Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, about 5pm on Sunday (27 December 2020), after receiving information from Crime Stoppers in relation to possible breaches of a Public Health Order.
After speaking with staff and attendees, police recorded contact details for more than a dozen guests, who are Northern Beaches residents.
Police issued 12 PINs on Monday (28 December 2020) to attendees who are Northern Beaches residents.
Following further inquiries, another nine guests were identified as Northern Beaches residents and were spoken to by police before $1000 PINs were issued either in person or by post.
These include three men – aged 31, 41 and 75 – and two women – aged 42 and 71 – from Narraweena, a 32-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from Collaroy Plateau, and a 36-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from Frenchs Forest.
Inquiries are continuing.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.