Greater Sydney: Stay at home order

Stay at home orders apply to Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, 9 July 2021.

From 6pm on Saturday 26 June, the stay at home direction applies to people who live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas.

Restrictions apply to regional and rural NSW to protect the community from COVID-19.

Places that are closed:

There is a list of places in Greater Sydney that are directed to be closed to the public.  Venues relevant to our industry include: 

• Entertainment facilities, such as theatres, cinemas, music halls, concert halls and dance halls.
• Indoor recreation facilities such as squash courts, indoor swimming pools, gyms, table tennis centres, health studios, bowling alleys and ice rinks.
• Caravan parks and camping grounds, except for
• • permanent residents or other people who have no other place of permanent residence, and their visitors
  • people who were staying there on Friday 25 June 2021 and have not extended their booking.
• Public swimming pools (except natural swimming pools, which may open).

The only exemption is for recreation facilities (indoor), to provide educational services or childcare. This is listed in the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 [Division 4, (24), (f), (i)].

Outdoor gatherings:

If you are in the Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must not participate in an outdoor public gathering of more than 10 people, unless you are:

• working or attending a university or other tertiary education facility 
• providing care or assistance to vulnerable persons
• gathering with your household
• gathering for a wedding or funeral
• providing emergency assistance to a person
• fulfilling a legal obligation
• moving home or moving your business to a new premises.

Exemptions for outdoor gatherings:

There is a list of exemptions for the 10 person outdoor gathering limit.  This includes:

• schools, universities, other educational institutions and childcare facilities
• early education and care facilities.

Community sport:

You can take part in exercising or outdoor recreational activities that comply with:

• the gathering rules (no more than 10 people outdoors)
• the premises that are required to be closed.

However, no community sport (whether training or a match) in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour should proceed.

All of NSW:

Employers must allow an employee to work from home if it is reasonably practicable to do so.
If you cannot work from home and you go to your workplace, you must wear a face mask (unless an exemption applies).

For all other areas of NSW outside Greater Sydney, restrictions apply including:

• A 20-person limit applies to classes or activities at a gym, dance or any other activities such as a yoga class.
• If you are participating in a dance class or gym class, or you must wear a face mask.
• The 1 person per 4 square metre rule is to be re-introduced.
• Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50% seated capacity
• Masks are compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events.

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment:

The Australian Government's Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment to help you during the 14 days you need to self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone. If you need longer-term help, you may be eligible for other payments.

The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is for people living in NSW who can't earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone who has COVID-19.

To be eligible, you must be directed to self-isolate or quarantine by NSW Health. Apply for the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.

COVID-19 Disaster Payments:

You may be eligible if all of the following apply:

• you can’t attend work and lost income on or after day 8 of a COVID-19 lockdown.
• you don’t have access to appropriate paid leave entitlements through your employer.
• you’re not getting an income support payment, a state or territory. pandemic payment, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment or state small business payment for the same period.

The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a one off payment to help you when lockdown lasts for more than 7 days. You can’t get this payment for the first 7 days of lockdown.

Lockdown is a period of restricted movement when people must stay at home and can only leave for approved reasons.

A hotspot is an area of COVID-19 local transmission declared by the Chief Medical Officer. The Department of Health website lists the current hotspots.

For more information: COVID-19 Disaster Payment - Services Australia

More details on COVID-19 restrictions:

For full details: Additional restrictions for NSW | NSW Government

Click here for the Public Health Order.