Coronavirus restrictions back in place for Sydney from midday

Citizens of Greater Sydney will go into snap three-day restrictions from midday today (enforceable from 5pm), following a second confirmed local transmission of COVID-19.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the restrictions this morning off the back of a 50-year-old man testing positive yesterday and his wife receiving a positive diagnosis of the virus overnight.

The two cases have been genomically linked to a returned US traveller who entered hotel quarantine on April 28. At this stage, Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health is unable to identify how the couple became infected. Chant says this raises concerns that there may be a further case at large in the community.

“We can’t find any direct link between our case, so what we’re concerned about is there is another person that is as yet unidentified that infected our case, and then the hypothesis is that our case passed it on to the household, which is what we would believe because of the greater risk in households.”

What you can and can’t do from 5pm

Mask wearing will be compulsory at all indoor venues and on public transport from 5pm. Singing and dancing at indoor venues is again forbidden at places of worship or venues. Weddings however will be exempt as will performers in shows.

Visitors to your home will now be capped at a maximum of 20 people (including children).

Hospitality venues must again have seated patrons – with no alcohol to be consumed standing. Up to 200 people can gather outdoors. For gatherings of more than 200 a COBID safety plan must be in place.

Business as usual for NSW

The premier has advised that while restrictions are necessary to protect the state’s citizens, it is still very much business as usual in the state.

“What we’re doing is a very precautionary response in the next three days. It’s actually very proportionate,” she said.

“Unlike other premiers, we’re not shutting down the city. We’re not changing the two square metre rule. Quite the contrary. We’re saying to everybody business as usual but just do a few things extra to make sure until we identify those cases.”

The restrictions apply to Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) and will be in place until 12:01am Monday 10 May.

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