SOME REGIONAL NSW LGAS TO HAVE RESTRICTIONS RELAXED

New South Wales has recorded 1,405 cases of COVID-19 overnight.

Meanwhile, a number of freedoms have been granted to regional areas across the state.

The following freedoms will be available to people in LGAs where stay-at-home orders have lifted:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
– Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
– Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
– Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person
per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
– Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
– Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per
4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
– Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule
and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
– Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools:
– Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
– Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and
zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
– Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
– Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music
halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent
fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
– Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking
only while seated.
– Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
– Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no
singing.

Travel:
– Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
– Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks:
– Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport,
front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
– Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
– Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

Stay-at-home orders remain in place in for a list of LGAs, including the Central Coast, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Upper Hunter.

There were 22 new cases on the Central Coast. NSW Health is urging that community to remain vigilant, limit mobility and come forward for testing.

The Hunter New England Health District recorded another 12 cases – 4 in Port Stephens, 4 in Newcastle, 3 in Lake Macquarie and 1 in Maitland.