Public Health Order updates

New information is available relating to Public Health Orders that detail restrictions for A-league games and the New Year's Cricket Test, restrictions for Greater Sydney and the Northern Beaches, mandatory mask wearing, and self-isolation

A-league games

Commencing 8 January 2021, the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) Amendment (No 3) Order provides direction regarding attendance at A-league games.

The order directs that:

• “affected persons” must not to attend as a spectator to an A-league game in major recreational facilities until 31 January 2021; and
• all persons in the major recreational facilities for a A-league game or queueing to enter must wear a mask unless exempted. The same exemptions that apply to the SCG provisions apply for the A-league games.

An affected person is:

• a resident of an affected area and a person who, in the 14 days before the event, have stayed overnight or worked in an affected area. The affected areas have been notified as Auburn, Belmore, Berala, Birrong, Lidcombe, Potts Hill, Regents Park, Rookwood and Wentworthville and the northern area of the Northern Beaches. These areas will be updated as appropriate.
  
• anyone who has been to a venue of concern listed on the NSW Government website in the last 14 days.
• anyone who has been to a public exposure site as listed by the Department of Health and Human Services of Victoria on its website in the last 14 days.

Information is available on the NSW Government website.

Restrictions for New Year's Cricket Test in Sydney

The New Year's Cricket Test between Australia and India, at the Sydney Cricket Ground commenced on Thursday 7 January 2021. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, a number of measures will be in place, under the  Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) Amendment (No 2) Order 2021

The precautions in place for the duration of the match mean that:

• spectators must wear a fitted face covering (face mask)
  
• people from certain areas in Greater Sydney (affected areas) will not be allowed to attend.

These arrangements will be in place from the beginning of Thursday 7 January until the end of Monday 11 January 2021, or the day on which the New Year's Cricket Test concludes.

Fines of $1,000 apply to anyone who attends the Sydney test match who has been in the listed suburbs or to a venue of concern.

For information on affected areas and the restrictions, visit the NSW Government website or the NSW Health website. 

New Public Health Order: mandatory face coverings

The Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Order 2021 mandates the wearing of face coverings in certain venues and situations in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, effective 3 January 2021.

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).

On-the-spot fines of $200 apply for those not wearing a face mask.

Information is available on the NSW Health website, or the NSW Government website.   

It's important to remember that face masks alone are not enough to protect you from COVID-19. Physical distancing, hand hygiene and getting tested at the first sign of symptoms, remain critical.    

Amended Public Health Order: gathering and movement

The amended Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement Order (No 7) contains directions on gatherings, and the number of people allowed on non-residential and residential premises, with additional restrictions outlined for the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and the Central Coast), effective 3 January, 2021.

Information is available via the NSW Health website, or the NSW Government website.   

Amended Public Health Order: Northern Beaches

The Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 contains directions on staying at home, entering the Northern Beaches, public gatherings, exempted gatherings and places that are closed. From midnight 2 January 2021, these restrictions apply to the northern zone of the Northern Beaches only - the southern zone of the Northern Beaches is be subject to the same restrictions as Greater Sydney (see information provided above).

An exemption is also available for horses/livestock. 

Information is available via the NSW Health website, or the NSW Government website.   

Amended Public Health Order: self-isolation

The Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 5) Amendment Order 2021, requires people diagnosed with COVID-19, and close contacts of a COVID-19 case, to self-isolate, effective 3 January, 2021.

For close contacts, the period for self-isolation is the period determined by an authorised contact tracer and cannot exceed 14 days. The self-isolation period correlates with the 14-day incubation period (based off the person's last date of exposure to COVID-19).

The Amended Order allows an authorised medical practitioner to direct a close contact of a COVID case to:

• be tested for COVID-19 and provide details of the date, time and location of any test undertaken, or
• continue their self-isolation period for a further period up to 10 days.

Information is available on the NSW Health website.