NSW Government is easing certain COVID-19 restrictions in the Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong areas. However, important COVID-19 restrictions continue to apply in NSW to protect our community. Please share this information with your networks and communities.
Easing of restrictions in Greater Sydney
As of Friday 29 January in the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains), certain COVID-19 restrictions will be eased, including:
- Visitors to households will be increased to 30 guests – including children.
- Outdoor gatherings will be increased to 50 people in total.
- Weddings and funerals will be capped at 300 people (fully seated) subject to the 1 person per 4sqm rule with no singing or dancing (except 20 nominated people in the wedding party can dance).
- All other venues including hospitality venues, places of worship and corporate event venues (fully seated with no singing or dancing) will be subject to the 1 person per 4sqm rule.
- Singing indoors including choirs or places of worship will be limited to five people
- Masks will be recommended but no longer compulsory at retail shopping venues.
- Masks will remain compulsory for front-of-house hospitality staff, on public transport, in places of worship, hairdressers, beauticians and gaming rooms.
For more information and multilingual resources about the current restrictions in Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong, see here.
For more information about what you can and can’t do in Greater Sydney, see here.
Testing
With restrictions set to ease across Greater Sydney it is crucial that we maintain our vigilance. Testing is an important tool in tracking the spread of COVID-19. NSW Health is concerned with low testing numbers and urges anyone with mild flu-like symptoms to get tested and then remain at home until a negative result is received.
Testing at public COVID-19 clinics is free, quick and easy. No Medicare card is required. Most people in NSW receive their test results within 24 hours.
Protect your community, family and loved ones by getting tested even if you have mild symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell, loss of taste.
NSW Health has increased testing options for the community and there are more than 350 COVID-19 testing locations in NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or speak to your GP confidentially about getting tested.
For multilingual factsheets and resources about testing in your language, see here.
For more information
If you think you have COVID-19 or you have a question related to your health, you can speak to a registered nurse by calling 1800 020 080 or go to www.healthdirect.gov.au.
Call 13 77 88, available 24/7 for all questions that are not related to your health. To speak to an interpreter in your language call 13 14 50.
Updated information about COVID-19 materials and translated resources are available at nsw.gov.au/covid-19.