WOLLONGONG will go into a 14-day lockdown from 6pm this evening (Saturday, June 26) as the outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant of Covid-19 prompts ‘extraordinary’ concern among health experts.
Wollongong will join Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and the Central Coast with stay-at-home orders until Friday July 9.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the restrictions at a Covid-19 update, following crisis talks with cabinet colleagues and health experts.
“We need to do it properly. There was no point doing it for three days or five days because it wouldn’t have done the job,” Premier Berejiklian said.
The lockdown comes after NSW recorded 29 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. This includes 17 cases which were announced on Friday morning.
Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the stay-at-home orders will apply to all people in Wollongong. Everyone in the city must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason.
The reasons you may leave your home include:
Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;
- Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);
- Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;
- Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.
- Community sport will not be permitted during this period. Weddings will not be permitted from 11.59pm, Sunday 27 June. Funerals will be limited to one person per four square metres with a cap of 100 people, and masks must be worn indoors.
In all other parts of NSW the following restrictions will apply:
- People who have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong) on or after June 21 should follow the stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days after they left Greater Sydney.
- Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;
- Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;
- Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed;
- Singing by audiences and choirs at indoor venues or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
- Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party only (no more than 20 people);
- Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn);
- The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;
- Outdoor seated, ticketed events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity;
The Premier said the Government has always indicated it will not hesitate to go further with restrictions to protect the people of NSW.
“We understand this is a difficult time for everyone, however we need to take these steps now to get on top of this outbreak,” she said.
For the latest details visit NSW Health website.
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