Everything you need to know about the lockdown for Greater Sydney
Lockdown has been extended in Greater Sydney for another week as case numbers of coronavirus continue to grow.
The stay-at-home orders had been initially scheduled to end this Friday.
It is now scheduled to end at 11.59pm next Friday, July 16.
The lockdown includes Sydney itself, as well as the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.
How many visitors can I have at my home?
Unless they are in your home for care or compassionate reasons, you cannot have any guests at all in your home during lockdown.
The exception is if two people are in a relationship but do not live together.
Faith leaders are allowed to visit homes for pastoral care.
NSW Health says in order to visit a home, you will need a “reasonable excuse”.
What are the new LGAs of concern?
The Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas are seeing a spike in the spread of coronavirus.
Because of that, the NSW Government is urging people not to mix across households, even for care or compassionate reasons.
“We would prefer that people basically stay at home if at all possible,” Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has said.
Fairfield LGA stretches from Villawood to Horsley Park and Bonnyrigg Heights.
Liverpool LGA stretches from Holsworthy to Luddenham, and it includes suburbs like Hoxton Park, Casula and Liverpool itself.
Canterbury-Bankstown goes from Earlwood to Milperra, taking in Padstow, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Villawood and surrounding suburbs.
Yes, you can move house during lockdown.
Can I visit my partner in lockdown?
Yes, you are allowed to visit your romantic partner in lockdown.
Reasons to leave home
The lockdown means there are only four reasons to leave your home, including: shopping for food or other essential goods and services; medical care or compassionate needs including getting vaccinated; exercise outdoors; and essential work or education, where you cannot work or study at home.
You are allowed to leave home for safety reasons, including escaping from a domestic violence situation.
Is Wollongong in lockdown?
Yes, Wollongong and Shellharbour are part of the lockdown areas.
Is Newcastle in lockdown?
No. Newcastle is not in lockdown. The lockdown regions include the Central Coast LGA, which ends before Newcastle.
Are schools open in lockdown?
Schools in the lockdown areas will be operating remotely until next Friday, save for the children of essential workers who can attend in person.
All staff and students in Year 7 or older will be required to wear masks while on campus.
Schools outside the lockdown regions will resume classes as normal next week.
Schools within the lockdown areas are forecast to return to face-to-face learning on Monday July 19.
Is retail open?
Some retail is still open. Supermarkets and other food outlets remain open, and you can buy what you need.
Authorities are urging people to avoid unnecessary trips to the shops by stocking up on food, and only having one member of each household buying the groceries.
Some non-grocery stores remain open for essential reasons.
Hardware stores, chemists and shops like Target and Kmart are still open, though you must only go there for necessities.
There have been reports of other retail outlets still open when they shouldn’t be.
You should be aware that just because a store is open doesn’t mean police can’t fine you for being there without good reason.
