Large extended families in Wollongong will not be able to gather for Christmas lunch or dinner, after the NSW Government decided to mostly maintain a temporary public health order which bans gatherings of more than 10 adult visitors in homes over the holidays.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Wednesday morning that there had again been eight new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, prompting her to make "modest changes" to the restrictions.
However, there are still no more than 10 adult visitors allowed to gather in people's homes.
Ms Berejiklian said the restrictions brought in earlier this week for "Greater Sydney" - which includes the Wollongong LGA and the Central Coast - would stay in place, but for a small tweak which would allow an unlimited number of children under 12 to join a maximum of 10 adult visitors in homes between December 24-26.
The 10 adult cap applies to visitors, and not the residents of the homes, so for example: a household which has five adults living there may have another 10 adult visitors - and unlimited primary school age children - over each day between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
From December 27, the restriction will revert to allow only 10 people of any age to visit households in the restricted areas.
The fine for breaking the public health order remains at $1000 per adult.
There will be no changes to restrictions for "regional NSW" which includes Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven, and residents from Wollongong are still free to travel to those areas and gather in households.
Up to 50 people are allowed to visit homes in suburbs outside the restricted area. The rules for outdoor gatherings are unchanged in Wollongong and elsewhere, with 100 people allowed in public parks, reserves, beaches, public gardens and spaces.
There are also no changes to the venue patron cap in Wollongong - which remains at 300, depending on space using the four square metre rule - or the rules governing church gatherings and indoor singing which were brought in earlier this week.
Elsewhere, venues may use the two square metre rule.
Labor's health spokesman and Keira MP Ryan Park said he was disappointed in the Premier's decision regarding Wollongong.
"I am really disappointed for Wollongong locals especially those small business owners who have already paid for stock and supplies expecting a lot different Christmas and New Year trading period than the one they now have," he said.
"I still don't understand why the Wollongong Local Government Area has been put into these restrictions given Newcastle hasn't and they are around the same distance from the current Northern Beaches hotspot.
"We haven't had any locally acquired cases for months and we are not aware as to the specific health advice that this decision is based on".
He said the Health Minister should outline the specific advice regarding Wollongong so the community could better understand why they have been included in these restrictions.
"I will continue to raise this issue with the Minister's office to see if there can be consideration given to taking Wollongong off these restrictions, subject of course to no cases detected in the area," he said.
At her morning media update, Ms Berejikilan said seven of the new daily cases were directly linked to the Avalon cluster and the eighth was already mentioned yesterday as being linked to a work in hotel quarantine.
42,000 people came forward for testing in the 24 hour period.
The decision does not change most NSW residents' ability to travel within their home state - as all residents except those from the Northern Beaches were still able to move freely around under the temporary restrictions.
However, the state has changed the boundary of the restricted area in the Northern Beaches, splitting the area into two zones at Narrabeen Bridge on Thursday.
Residents living on the northern part of the region (north of the bridge and east of the Bahai temple at Mona Vale Road) will essentially remain in lockdown.
From Thursday to Saturday they will be able to have five people from that are visit their home.
During the same period, people in the southern part will be allowed to have up to 10 guests to their home, who can come from outside of the region.
All Northern Beaches residents are not allowed to leave the area.
Statement from Gladys Berejiklian and Brad Hazzard
For the Greater Sydney region, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains:
- Current restrictions that were due to expire at midnight tonight will remain in place.
- However, primary school aged children and younger will be allowed on top of the current 10 visitors cap for homes.
- On December 27, the region will revert to existing restrictions.
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